Messages

16

Prophets and Messengers / Does the Qur'an support the unsurpased "beauty/handsomeness" of Prophet Joseph?

« on: August 16, 2015, 12:13:55 PM »

Salam all,
We are all familiar with the traditional stories of the remarkable beauty/handsomeness of Prophet Joseph (as) and the attempted affair of the governor's wife with him.  Yasir Qadhi, a renowned scholar, like most others like him, tells us that Prophet Joseph had half of the word's beauty.  My question for the honorable members of this form is "Is there any evidence from the Qur'an--especially from Sura 12---that Prophet Joseph was a pretty-faced prophet? If so, what verse is it that supports Prophet Joseph's legendary beauty?  Thanks.
Irfan

17

Women / Triple Talaq--The Quick and dirty way to divorce a wife

« on: August 16, 2015, 12:00:15 PM »

Assalam-o-alaikum,
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/10/india-muslim-women-fight-triple-talaq-law-instant-divorce
If the Taliban and the ISIS philosophy does not cause your gorges to spill out, try reading  the above article that highlights another curse that continues to ruin the lives of countless Muslim women---women who have been suffering at the hands of the non-Qur'anic, mullah-churned Shari'a rule of the infamous "quick and dirty Triple Talaq" which means that if you pronounce the verbal Talaq to you wife three times in a breath, her life is basically over in your house!
This is just one more example of the mindless blind-following of mullahism in total disregard of immaculate, pure, and logical teachings of the Qur'an.
Is there a way to come out of the quick sand of the oppressive Mullahism?
No---unless you vow to get your Divine guidance directly by thoroughly studying the Book we all know as The Light, The Mercy, and The Guidance, the Glorious Qur'an!
There is no quick and dirty Triple Talaq in the Qur'an.

Fauq

18

General Discussions / Re: Jesus dead or alive. The author argues he is not dead !! Please comment

« on: May 27, 2015, 12:43:07 AM »

Salam bro Ijaz,

Many people have written articles refuting Prophet Jesus' so-called "Second Coming".  I can post them if you like but you can google them under the works of Dr. Shabbir Ahmed, Nadeem Qureshi, Noor Islam, and Kashif Shahzada.  Their arguments are similar to br. Joseph's and are all worth reading.

However, I just want to make a few additional points here:

1.   If the second coming of Prophet Jesus is so important for all humanity, one wonders why Allah did not say so CLEARLY in the Qur’an so no one would be debating this issue—ever.  Why would Allah put us in such a strain to figure out ourselves if this issue is so important for us to know?
2.   The verse 19:33 (about Prophet Jesus) and verse 19:15 (about Prophet Yahya) are very similar—almost identical in verb forms and tenses used:

19: 15: And Salâm (peace) be on him the day he was born, THE DAY HE DIES, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)!

 

 
     19:33: "And Salâm (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and THE DAY I DIE, and the day I shall be raised alive!"
3.   Is Prophet Jesus giving Zakat to anyone in the Heavens—if he is still alive in Heaven waiting to come back?
      19:31 "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
وَجَعَلَنِي مُبَارَكًا أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُ وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا (19:31
4.   What is the purpose of Prophet Jesus to come back to mankind?  Is that to kill Jews and to bless the then-living Christians to become the “Muhammadans”?  Is it Diving Justice to provide this justice ONLY to those who would be present at some time in future, and not to billions of Christians to this day who have not been afforded this unique opportunity since he ‘moved on’?
5.   According to the popular belief of Jesus’ 2nd Coming, Jesus will come back to earth, fight the Dajjal and kill him, abrogate the Jizya, and break the Cross---then he will marry and have children during his 40 more years of living on this planet before he finally dies.  So all this means that the Day of Resurrection is at least more than 41 year from today!!!  This also means that we should not expect the DOJ to happen anytime soon!  This expectation is totally against the information provided by the Qur’an in which Allah has made it clear that the Hour can come ANY TIME--SUDDENLY—without us EXPECTING it.
       7:187 They ask thee about the (final) Hour - when will be its appointed time? Say: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (alone): None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only, ALL OF A SUDDEN will it come to you." They ask thee as if thou Wert eager in search thereof: Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone), but most men know not."

12:107. Do they, then, feel free from the fear that there might fall upon
them the overwhelming terror of God's chastisement, or that the Last Hour
might come upon them OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT THEIR BEING AWARE [of its
approach]?
21:40.  Indeed, it will come to them SUDDENLY, and they will be utterly STUNNED. They can neither avoid it, nor can they receive any respite.
26:202.  It will come to them SUDDENLY, WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT

7.   Khurshid Imam has used the  2nd Coming of Jesus as one of the important “signs” of the coming of the Day of Judgment. Here’s a verse that vehemently refutes that claim also, say that all the signs have already appeared:
47:18 Do they then only wait for the Hour,- that it should come on them of a SUDDENT? BUT ALREADY HAVE COME TOKENS THEREOF, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their admonition?

19

General Discussions / Re: The Quran supports a Geocentric view of the universe?

« on: May 26, 2015, 01:45:55 PM »

IMHO, there is a sound reason why Allah did not mention the planet Earth being in orbital motion in 21:33 or elsewhere:  Geocentrism has been a very sexy idea for many centuries because ‘it made sense to the ordinary seeing eye’.  Imagine Allah telling everyone in the presence of 7th century audience that the Earth is in an orbital motion (just like the Sun and the Moon)!  This would have been an outrageous statement to digest back at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an. The only way, even for a true believer (let alone a Kaafir), would have been to have a total "blind" faith in Allah and his sovereignty---without any rationale--- even though Allah emphasizes the use of human intellect and reasoning.  The exposition of the earthly orbital motion would have turned even some believers away from the Qur'an because no one in the 7th century was seeing the Earth moving!  This would have been a 'crazy' thing to say in that day.  Nevertheless, consider this:  Allah never said in the Qur’an that the Earth is stationary either.  If He would have said that, it would have been an incorrect assertion--an assertion that was perfectly justifiable to the 7th century audience, but totally unjustifiable to a 20th/21st century audience.  So Allah, in His absolute knowledge kept silent about the motion of the Earth, knowing that the time will come that man will know the truth about the Earth's motion.  So here is the truth in our time--the verse 21:33 is ONLY understandable if we assume that:
(1) the planet Earth is round, not flat
(2) it is moving around its own axis AND,
(3) it is moving around the Sun, not the other way round
All this is possible by asserting that there are FOUR orbital motions, not two, in 21:33.
I hope this addresses the concern.

20

General Discussions / Re: The Quran supports a Geocentric view of the universe?

« on: May 25, 2015, 10:19:39 AM »

I am participating in this forum after a long time.  Someone brought this 'geocentric" issue to my attention. Here is my take on the verse 21:33:

<<<21:33: And He it is Who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (orbs) travel along swiftly in their celestial spheres"
What most of us will tend to ignore in this verse is that are FOUR things (sun, moon, night, and day) mentioned here—not two--that are created by Allah with reference to their "going around/orbiting" motion.  Sun and moon are obvious but what about "night" and "day"? Are they not moving/swimming in orbital motions as well?  Think about it.  The Qur'an says that the formation of night and day is a continuous process (cleaving from each other/racing to—13:2, 32:29).
The Qur'an is saying here that the night and day formation is a continuously changing process (cleaving from each other/racing to catch/passing by) without break (day and night always exist simultaneously in a dynamic way on different parts of the earth because of the “orbital” motion of light and darkness.  So, the verse 21:33 is exceedingly deeper in meaning.  In sum, it says that:
1.    THE EARTH IS ROUND, NOT FLAT.  How?  Well, because the Night and the Day are ‘orbiting’ in a swimming-like motion
2.    THE EARTH IS MOVING AROUND THE SUN AND AROUND ITS AXIS.  How?  If the earth were FLAT and STATIONARY, the night and the day would not be continuously ‘orbiting’ around the earth (yes, around the Earth—rather, they would be static switching places every six months on the only TWO faces—irrespective of the sun moving around the earth or earth moving around the sun!  This is not a reality.  The fact remains that the Night and Day are created out of the axial motion of the earth and the night and the day are always there—‘swimming’ in their own ‘orbits’.  That is possible ONLY and ONLY if the earth were round, moving around the Sun AND moving on its own axis.  How else can you have a 24-hour cycle of the day and the night!  If the Sun is moving around the Earth, then the day and night would be a 365-some day cycle!

In sum, the following points need our attention:  First, FOUR orbital motions are mentioned in 21:33, not two.  If there were only two, the Arabic word would be “kullaa or kullohuma” (for duality),---not “kullun” (for plurality—more than two). The word “Kullun” qualifies for more than two objects.  Second, the orbital motion of the images of night and the day would not be ‘orbiting’ if the earth were stationary and flat.
I hope the forgoing explanation answers not only the question that the earth is moving but it is moving on its own axis and that it is basically round.   

Here’s another ayah that supports the FOUR orbital motion routines for the sun, moon, night and the day:
36:40
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day. All of them swim
along in their orbits. [The sun cannot pull the moon on to itself and the night and the
day cannot lengthen or shorten other than the appointed measure.

21

Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: June 09, 2013, 04:28:51 AM »

A correction:  Please read "NOT infallible" in the sentence "The verse 4:59 proves beyond doubt that the oou al-amr---whoever they may be---are NOT fallible" in my earlier post on this thread.  Thanks.

22

Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: June 09, 2013, 03:44:46 AM »

Peace to all:

I think this debate is caught in a whirlpool---an inevitable consequence of any debate between and a Shi'a brother/sister and someone else. Whenever there is a conflict between a well-ingrained BORROWED logic and an independent thought pattern, the process will fall flat on its face.

No offense but the whole Shi’a theology reminds me of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; it won't work- it never has.

Robert Michaels, in his treatise on democracies, has said that not only the political system, but ALL systems will degrade into authoritarianism, a natural consequence of what he calls "Iron Law of Oligarchy". This is true of theology as well, that delegates the Divine power to some presumed ""Imamate".

The verse 4:59 proves beyond doubt that the oou al-amr---whoever they may be---are NOT fallible.  If they were, there would not be any dispute between them and the ruled because Allah says "...If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger...".  So the ultimate authority is still "Allah and the Messenger".  Allah comes first but His Messenger did not bring the Message but from Him alone, so, at the end of the day, we are being asked to obey the Message—because, after the passing away of the Blessed Messenger, Allah generally talks to us through His Message.

In sum, the believers are told to base their obedience to the Oolu al-amr (whoever they are) who, in turn, should make sure that their decisions and verdicts stand on the firm footing of Allah's Message. 

23

General Discussions / The Prophet's night journey

« on: June 08, 2013, 11:29:34 AM »

17:1: Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allah) Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (the farthest mosque, in Jerusalem), whose surroundings We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of Our signs. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.

This verse is very incisive.  This says that Allah arranged the night journey (isra) from the “Al-Masjid-al-Haram”  to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (the farthest mosque, in Jerusalem),”.  The parenthetical comment of the translator suggest this journey was ONLY from Makah to Jerusalem!  Not any longer.  Is that the correct understanding?  This special mosque that has been described as “Masjid al-aqsa” (farthest mosque/place of sajdah—aqsa is the superlative degree of something being far) would then be the place that “has blessed surroundings”---and Allah, the Most High, wishes to show some of the signs of this blessed surroundings!

Traditionally, this place has been considered to be the now familiar ‘al-aqsa’ mosque of Jerusalem which, the history tells us, was not there at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an—it was ordered to be built in some sixty years later by the caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan but could only be completed in al-Walid bin Abdul Malik’s stint (705 CE). But leaving that part aside, the question is: How is this particular mosque’s surroundings BLESSED in a way Allah wanted to show the Prophet (piuh) some of His special signs there? Where are those special signs in Jerusalem’s mosque? So far we have seen only wars and bloodshed in the history of its surroundigs!

It looks like “the FARTHEST mosque” is not this mosque (al-Aqsa) in Jerusalem that is less than 1,000 miles away from Masjid al-Haram!  Allah knows the meaning of the “FARTHEST” and it is certainly not 1000 or so miles.

So if it is not the same al-Aqsa mosque (FARTHEST mosque) in Jerusalem that is worth visiting for Allah’s SPECIAL SIGNS, then WHERE IS IT? 

Well, the answer may be in the beginning verses of the Sura Najam—53:13-18. A closer look at these verses identifies the “FARTHEST MOSQUE” being “Sidrat-ul-mutaha” (the LAST/FARTHEST tree the SURROUNDINGS of which are blessed because this place is closest to the “Paradise of Abode”.   This is the place that Allah wished to show some of the wonderful SIGNS referred to in the verse 17:1!

Let’s take a closer look at these ayaat to see the reality:
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى (53:13)
•  53:13  For indeed he saw him (jibreel) at a second descent,   
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى (53:14)
•  53:14  Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:   
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى (53:15)
•  53:15  Near it is the Garden of Abode.   
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَى53:16)
(53:16  Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)   
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَى (53:17)
53:17  (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong!   
________________________________________
 An-Najm (The Star)
لَقَدْ رَأَى مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَى (53:1853:18  For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest!


Now we can see the farthest place is indicated by the word "mutaha" (last/final) “in 53:14 and the "blessed nature of God’s signs” that God wanted His servant to see is located in 53:18 in the sequence.

And this is not all:  The beginning verses of the Sura Najam (53:1-10) actually reveal a possible solution to yet another mystery---another piece of the puzzle that has been hitherto totally ignored!!!  What is it?  Perhaps we can talk about it later.

Irfan

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General Discussions / Re: Daabbah--the beast--what does it mean? Verse 27:82

« on: June 07, 2013, 03:25:15 PM »

Wa salamun alaikum, brother Joseph Islam,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about 27:82.  I must admit that this verse continues to be very difficult to understand for me.  I have seen many explanations of it and so far comprehension of this verse has proven elusive.  Most explanations are hadith based and do not make sense to me--unless we start believing in some "Mehdi" who has been alive in some cave (under earth).  That would be perfect.  However, I do not see any reference to "Mehdi" or any other apocalyptic figure in the Qur'an to support the Shi'a position.  Dr. Rashad Kahalifa's explanation, who advanced his explanation of 27:82 in support of his "Number 19" hypothesis, could be understood in the metaphorical sense of the word "Dabbah".  If it is taken literally, we have to assume that water is the ultimate source of not only all life in the Universe but also elements other than hydrogen (and oxygen), such as silicon.  That could be a tenable position on the scientific grounds because elements can be transformed, at least in theory, into one another-r hydrogen can be converted to other elements by adding protons to its nucleus--at very high temperatures and pressures-the conditions prevailing in the primordial universe. 

I can perhaps wait for some more thoughts from other participants on the forum.

25

General Discussions / Re: What does it mean to die twice ?

« on: June 06, 2013, 03:12:41 PM »

Salam bro. Optimist:
Thank you for your comments.   I agree with them fully. Just as footnote about the mysterious "death without previous life", when I saw your quotes:
<<<The rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead*  (2:164). and, A Sign for them is the earth that is dead*; We do give it life, and produce grain there from, of which ye do eat(36:33)>>>,
a notion popped up into my mind.  As brother Hope mentioned, the 'dead land' has to have some seed hidden somewhere in it that comes to life with the rainfall. I am taking that analogy to a step further: I think most of us are familiar with some basic genetics which tells us that we, other animals, and most plants, are basically are the product of a reshuffling of the pre-existing genes that happen to come from two gene pools we call 'parents' or male/female. So the "first or mystery death without prior life" depicted in the verse of "two deaths / two lives" (4:11) can perhaps be understood in this sense---that the genes are already there in existence (likened to the “dead state”), just not re-united. When a new organism--and humans are organisms--is born, this reality of the 'dead state' of genetic existence come to life.
I am still in the thinking mode… as some of say "Allah knows best", so do I.

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General Discussions / Daabbah--the beast--what does it mean? Verse 27:82

« on: June 06, 2013, 01:45:17 PM »

Peace to all:

Allah SWT said: "And when the Word is fulfilled against them (the unjust), We shall produce from the earth a Beast to (face) them: it will speak to them,'"(al-Naml 27.82)

I read in a Shi'a book "The Book of Sulaym bin Qays" that the Hadhrat Ali said it is about the "Promised Mehdi" who will appear from the cave from his "greater occultation".   Sunnis believe that this will be a real beast who will emerge from the earth with a rod of Prophet Moses and ring of Prophet Solomon that will destroy all unbelievers...etc.

I wonder if I can pick your brains regarding the nature of the 'beast' or "living creature" (daabbah) mentioned in the above ayah.

27

Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: June 05, 2013, 10:53:48 PM »

Peace, Br. Hope:

The verse 5:55 is general--it doesn't give any impression that it may refer to anyone particular.  This verse informs the believers that their friends are only Allah, His Messenger, and other believers--because the believers are the ones who establish Salat, pay the Zakaat, and bow before Allah.  If this verse were implying ONE particular person, it would say "Allah, His Messnger, and the one who establishes Salat, and pays Zakkat while in ruku".  Here's the full verse:   

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ (5:55) 
Basit -  Hussari  -  Minshawi   -   

Innama waliyyukumu Allahu warasooluhu waallatheena amanoo allatheena yuqeemoona alssalata wayutoona alzzakata wahum rakiAAoona

  Topics discussed in this Verse: 
[Allah's friendship (to the believers)] [Charity [zakah]] [Kabah] [Zakah] 


•5:55 (Picktall) Your friend can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor due, and bow down (in prayer).

28

Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: June 05, 2013, 05:48:58 AM »

Peace be upon you, my  brother Arif ali,
Thanks for your reminders.  There are all kinds of instructions about the Salat and circumambulations of the K'aba in the Qur'an. Consider this:  If the method of wudu has been described completely in the Qur'an, it is not possible that the rest of the Salat is not.  The Salat was already offered at the k'aba BEFORE the advent of the Prophet (piuh), only it was not being offered with proper understanding and spirit (8:35).  There was no God-fear (taqwa), no direction, no remembrance of God, no focus in the Salat.  It was reduced to a mere ritual. The FORM of the Salat was already there as it was one of the MANASIK (please study 2:125/128) but the spirit was absent.  Br. Joseph Islam has posted all the relevant verses that provide the right guidance which needed to be injected into the 'FORM'.  Similarly, the Hajj ritual was not new either.  It was already being done at the K'aba for a long time--yes, including the circumambulation.  If you think you should make only ONE circle and not seven, you comply with the Divine command.  I do seven circles because I think it is a part of the established 'FORM'.  But we should not lose sight of the fact that the real purpose of going for the Hajj is to remember Allah without many worldly distractions  (away from home, abstention from sex, no argumentation / fighting--perfect peace). 
So the Salat is mentioned multiple times in the Qur’an.  How about the "CONTINUING IMAMATE"?  Is it mentioned in the Qur'an (even once)? Brother, I would expect that there should be at least SOME indication from Allah telling us that we should follow some imamate--and also whose imamate?  I see no evidence of that instruction in the Book.  Even the word “Shi’a” is not used in the Qur’an the same way we know today.  So please give me something that I can say consider seriously. I always keep my mind open. 

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Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: June 01, 2013, 07:45:20 PM »

Salamun alaikum to all,

The end result of this discourse on the Shi'a doctrine was a forgone conclusion. You notice that NONE of the main doctrines of the Shi'a school of thought is sustainable from within the Qur'an. The Shi'a scholars literally scramble through the Book of Allah to find support for the Ali cluster of the "infallibles" but none is forthcoming. Sunnis have also been looking for Abu bakr's name or Umar's name in the Qur'an for the last 1100 years when these names were sanctified into the otherwise pristine Islam.
The Qur'an literally busts all the Sectarian bubbles with one poke!

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Discussions / Re: Shi'a Doctrine

« on: May 30, 2013, 03:35:29 PM »

Bother Arif,

I think the verse 3:61 is VERY clear and simple to understand.  It is asking the two disputing parties---who lay disputed claims to their own versions of Truth---to gather together at one place and invoke Allah's curse / wrath on the liar party and then see which party survives.  We are talking about the diehard communities that are deadest at their own convictions-no party budging an inch from their position!  That's why a final threatening and decisive  mubahala is called in the form of a Divine challenge. It is not about bringing one family--and that too only a few members, that would be a mockery of the mubahala challenge. It is about all those are in the game----either all of you survive or all of us---that's the game. The wording "OUR SONS AND YOUR SONS, OUR WOMEN AND YOUR WOMEN, OURSELVES AND YOURSELVES" of the Arabic verse is precise, clear, and all-encompassing. 
Please ask yourself:  Suppose you did not know anything about Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husain, what would you understand from this verse?