Topics

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1441531575983965


029:064
"And this life of the world is nothing but a 'diversion' (Arabic: laha) and a 'play / game / sport / pastime' (Arabic: la'ib). And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - surely THAT IS THE LIFE! If only they knew"

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1431486226988500


Dear brothers and sisters,

As-salamu alaykum

I trust that Ramadan is going well for you all.

I do at times receive queries from searching souls from all over the world requesting information regarding the presence of Quran-focused study groups / like-minded communities in their areas.

Due to another recent request from a kind soul, I thought I'd suggest something that may help.

If you are happy to share the general area you are from as a comment below (or have specific knowledge of an area), please feel free to do so.

This may assist in two main ways:

• Help you connect with like-minded people / families in your local areas if you so desire
• May assist others to find out area specific information regarding Quran study groups etc. in their respective areas

Regards,
Joseph

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1427354040735052


THE JEWS AND THE QURAN


1 - The Jews and Believers are under one 'Deen' [42:13]

2 - The Jews have their own Shariah [5:48 - Shir-atan]

3 - The Jews have their own ceremonial rites that they must follow [22:67]

4 - The Jews have been strongly instructed by the Quran to judge by the Torah [5:43-45, 5:8]

5 - The Jews have been instructed to stand firmly by the Torah [5:68 - Tuqimu]

6 - The Jews are instructed to keep the Sabbath [4:154 -Bound by covenant (mithaq) - never to be abrogated; 16:124; 2:65; 4:47; 7:163]

7 - The Jews have respite / salvation with God [2:62; 5:69]

8 - The Laws of Prophet Moses given to the Children of Israel are not abrogated for the Jews. The Quran also recognises their scriptures as a legitimate guide [28:49 - minhuma - both of them]

9 - The Jews have their own Qiblah [10:87; 2:144-45]

10 - There are Jews that guide and do justice in the light of the truth [7:159]

11 - There are Jews that believe in One God, the revelation to you and the revelation to them and they bow in humility to God [3:199]

12 - God's name is mentioned in synagogues [22:40]

13 - Prophet Muhammad was instructed not to be in any doubt coming face to face (liqaihi) with the Scripture given to Moses [32:23]

14 - The Jews are expected to accept the truth that is with them, and the truth that is revealed to us, the believers [28:52-53]

15 - Those Jews that have acknowledged the truth of the Quran are also known as believers [5:83 - amanna]

16 - The Jews are expected to carry out ritual practices of worship [2:43]


REFERENCES:

[1] PEOPLE OF THE BOOK (JEWS & CHRISTIANS)
http://quransmessage.com/.../people%20of%20the%20book%20FM3.h...
[2] THE QIBLA CHANGE
http://quransmessage.com/articles/qibla%20FM3.htm
[3] MARRIAGE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
http://quransmessage.com/.../marriage%20with%20people%20of%20...
[4] IS KOSHER MEAT PERMISSIBLE FOR CONSUMPTION?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/kosher%20FM3.htm
.

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1426385464165243&id=100003814101226&__tn__=-R


As we remain blessed to be part of the incoming month of Ramadan once again, may the crescent-shaped moon wax and wane showering you with blessings and enlightenment throughout this month and beyond.

Ramadan Kareem!

Your brother in faith.

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1425184047618718


BEWARE OF THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW

"While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." [Luke 20:45-47]

If Prophet Muhammad could walk the earth again today, one does wonder whether his observations would lead to similar sentiments against some of the Muslim teachers, which Prophet Jesus expressed, against the teachers of the law of his day.

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1423377151132741


CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WISELY

If we were to mentally survey our friends, relatives and who we commonly associate with, how many of them keep us simply 'plugged-into' and focused on the 'Duniya' (world, temporal existence)? How many of them are oriented towards keeping us focused on another goal, our salvation in the 'Akhirat' (Hereafter)?

043:067
"Friends on the Day will be enemies one to another, except the righteous"

009:071 (part)
"And the believing men and the believing women are friends / allies / protectors (awliyaa) of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong..."

We should really know our friends, relatives and who we associate with.

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/joseph-abraham-islam/reliable-prophetic-ahadith-or-salvaged-history/1422522287884894/


RELIABLE PROPHETIC AHADITH OR SALVAGED HISTORY?

Do traditionalists really expect critical discerning minds to believe that allegedly, prophetic ahadith passed 'word of mouth' after the death of the Prophet through decades / centuries of wars, sectarian influences and political influences unscathed?

That these reports are not heavily influenced and tainted through the manipulations of their day?

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/joseph-abraham-islam/time-bound-sunna/1421957971274659/


TIME-BOUND SUNNA

A Prophetic Sunna by its own nature can only exist if it satisfies the presence of two very necessary components.

• The presentation of a specific set of circumstances for the Prophet to apply a judgement or impart an action.
• The application of such judgement based on Divinely guided principles that he received as part of Divine inspiration.

Some of those circumstances will be applicable today, some will not.

Keeping the above components of the Sunna in view, Prophet Muhammad applied a timeless Divine document (The Quran) with guiding principles to a particular set of circumstances that he was being presented with.

What resulted was a time specific 'Sunna'. Therefore, mode of transports (e.g. riding a camel), wearing a particular attire, culturally specific eating habits, specific tools used in maintaining hygiene, judgements based on particular circumstances etc. have a time specific component which much be appreciated.



If the Prophet applied the same timeless guidance (i.e. Quran) to a different situation in a different culture at a different time slice of history, the outcomes could potentially be very different with regards his 'Sunna'.

In the much the same manner, every prophet / messenger applied their Divine guidance to their specific set of circumstances yielding their 'Sunna'.


REFERENCE:

[1] TIME-BOUND SUNNA
http://quransmessage.com/articles/timebound%20sunna%20FM3.htm 

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1421791604624629&id=100003814101226&__tn__=-R


THE SAME 'DEEN' BUT DIFFERENT 'SHARIAHS' PRESCRIBED

SAME DEEN

042.013
"The same religion (Arabic: Deen) He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah and that which We have sent by inspiration to thee and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus:  Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions in it: to those who worship other things than God, hard is the (way) to which you call them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him)"

DIFFERENT SHARIAH

005.048 (part)
"...To each among you have We prescribed a law (Arabic: Shiraa'-atan) and an open way (Arabic: Waminhajan). If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute"

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1421098521360604


AVOIDING UNNECESSARY DISPUTES / ARGUMENTS IN MATTERS OF RELIGION

042:016
"And those who argue / dispute / concerning God after He has been acknowledged / accepted - their argument is invalid / void / has no weight with their Lord, and upon them is [His] wrath, and for them is a severe punishment."

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1420366294767160


010:012
"And when affliction touches man (humans), he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues as if he had never called upon Us to (remove) an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing"

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1419932781477178


002.201
"Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire!"

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1419791808157942


SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH MINORS - A HEINOUS SUGGESTION


This short video may prove difficult viewing so please be kindly aware. The discussion is between a traditionalist and a Quran-focused gentleman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gfSkragdAg

To provide evidence for the need of the Hadith corpus as an authorised religious source, the traditionalist in the video even goes as far as to claim that on its own reading, the Quran would not prohibit sexual intercourse with a 5 years old. In my humble view, this is an unwarranted, outrageous and preposterous assertion against the Quran's position.

He claims: "If you just read the Quran, it would be halal to have sexual intercourse with a 5 year old" [53 seconds].

Please can I strongly suggest that if you have not already, please kindly read the following article [1] below where I have contended with such an unwarranted suggestion dealing with verse 65:4, This may assist to provide a counter argument, if such an assertion is made to you by a traditionalist or otherwise.

I hope this helps, God willing


REFERENCE:

[1] DOES VERSE 65:4 PROVIDE CONSENT TO CONSUMMATE A MARRIAGE WITH A FEMALE MINOR?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/verse%2065-4%20FM3.htm

RELATED:

[2] WAS AYESHA REALLY A CHILD BRIDE? - MARRIAGEABLE AGE FROM THE QURAN
http://quransmessage.com/articles/ayesha%20age%20FM3.htm
[3] NIKAAH - THE CONTRACT OF MARRIAGE
http://quransmessage.com/articles/nikaah%20FM3.htm
[4] FACEBOOK POST 493
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/320507234753077

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1418992868237836


MY HUMBLE ADVICE REGARDING ARABIC AND PRAYER

It is arguably an undeniable fact that Prophets Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and all the messengers before Prophet Muhammad and after Prophet Abraham prayed in a language other than Arabic / in their own native tongues [1]. It is also an undeniable fact that a vast portion of the Quran is itself a translation (i.e. translation of speech from antiquity and other species / God's creations into Arabic so that the primary audience of the Quran could understand the message).

However, in no particular order, I would humbly share the following as summary points to the title of the post:

1. I would separate the concept of 'congregational' prayer [standard agreed form and utterance] with 'private' prayer [standard agreed form with standard and supererogatory utterances]. As you will note below, both can have a slightly nuanced approach.

2. I would strongly advise those brought up in 'Muslim' households (or where Islam is practiced from birth), to make it an absolute duty to teach Quranic Arabic along with its recitation. The misery and or impact of 'blind rote learning' can never be underestimated [2]. The goal should at least be to teach the meanings of the Quranic Arabic words to aid recital. The Quran often repeats a lot of words and it is surprising how few words have to be learnt to cover over 80% of the Quran. There is a plethora of material online and with technological advancements and ubiquity; the avenues to learning have become far easier to access than they were arguably a generation ago. Therefore, those parents with young children, the process should start immediately whilst their children's minds are extremely receptive to learning new languages and adept at absorbing new information.

3. In native English speaking countries, I would still advise the congregations to retain Arabic for congregational prayer as the lingua franca. This is because that despite any public sermon (Khutbah) being in English (advisable), the congregation prayer is quite likely to attract worshippers from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, a common 'religious' language should always preferably remain the standard for congregations. This takes care of the recital of passages in the original Quranic Arabic and retains the incentive / need for worshippers to learn the language and its meanings. This also applies to Arabic speaking nations as those who are from such nations know very well that spoken / regional / dialectical Arabic differs much between each other and Quranic Arabic. If the language is completely alien, then language aids should be encouraged / used to understand meaning.

4. Private prayers can be mixed and along with Quranic recitation, one should also be encouraged to beseech their Lord in a language that is native to them within the prayer routine. This maintains relevance and spiritual connection. There is no harm in my humble view for a prayer in such an instance to become multilingual.

5. Those that enter the folds of Islam and do not understand Arabic should not be unduly coerced to maintain their utterances in Arabic which given their age, might be difficult to grasp. The distinctions in point [1] above should be made clear and they should be encouraged to learn as many meanings of Quranic Arabic words as possible, whilst retaining the fluidity to be able to beseech their Lord in a language they are most comfortable in, particularly in private prayer.


REFERENCES:

[1] DO WE HAVE TO PRAY IN ARABIC?
http://quransmessage.com/.../do%20we%20have%20to%20pray%20in%...
[2] THE MISERY OF BLIND ROTE LEARNING[/color]
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/413530532117413

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1418880161582440


WAS RITUAL PRAYER A PRACTICE INVENTED LATER?

As per some claims within the Quran focused groups, there is absolutely no historical proof that a mass invention of ritual prayer ever took place which introduced this practice into Muslim thought. The latter claim is the focus of the short article below.


REFERENCE:

[1] WAS RITUAL PRAYER A PRACTICE INVENTED LATER?
http://quransmessage.com/articl.../invented%20prayer%20FM3.htm

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1418160578321065&id=100003814101226


THE ASSERTION THAT 'THE QURAN REQUIRES NO OTHER SOURCE FOR INTERPRETATION' WITHOUT EXCEPTION IS FALSE

Those that claim otherwise, must answer the following two simple questions with intellectual honesty:

1. How does one then find the meanings of Quranic words / grammar constructs - syntax / semantics as the Quran is not a lexicon or dictionary?

2. How does one then understand words in the Quran that have only been used once in the entire Scripture (hapax legomenons)? Example: "Mikaeel " (2:98);  "Al-Tara'ib" (86:7); "Eid" (5:114)?

One simply cannot interact with a dictionary or lexicon and then uphold the notion that the Quran requires 'nothing else ' for interpretation without exception.


REFERENCES:

[1] TWO CRUCIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 'QURANIST' (ISM) AND 'QURAN-CENTRIC' APPROACH
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/542672849203180
[2] DIALOGUE BETWEEN A SUNNI AND A QURAN ALONE MUSLIM
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2328.msg12193#msg12193

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1417592788377844


FACEBOOK POSTS WITH DIRECT QM FORUM LINKS

Dear All,

As-salamu alaykum

Please kindly note that going forward, Facebook posts will have an accompanying individual thread created on the QM Forum to enable any potential Q&As with regards the specific post.

This is to enable those that do not make use of Facebook to engage in appropriate discourse / related Q&As in relation to the post. It is also intended to provide those who make use of Facebook an opportunity to do the same, if it is their desire.

A direct link will be shared on each post going forward.

Of course, the complete Facebook posts database to date (from 2012) can be found in the link below:
http://quransmessage.com/(9)%20Facebook/Shared/fbmainlinksFM2.htm

Regards,
Joseph

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1417319491738507


THE WEAKNESS OF QURAN FOCUSED GROUPS

Let there be no doubt, that there are interpretations within the Quran focused groups which are so polarised, that they could for all intent and purposes, be following different religions.

For example, if one believes in ritual salaat prescribed by the Quran, and the other does not, this is not a trifling difference of opinion. This is a fundamental difference in religion. If one believes in abstinence of food and drink during Ramadan and another does not, this is a fundamental difference in religion. If one believes in the angels as a separate creation of God with awareness, and another simply as natural forces, this is a fundamental difference in religion.

Let us not be fooled. At times the Quran movement is so disparate, disjointed and disunited - even on fundamentals, that it can become a focus of ridicule even by the genuine critic.

To make the Quran based approach a powerful alternative to the traditionalist approach, it will have to unite under the canopy of commonly held principles and beliefs. A movement spearheaded towards a focused goal underpinned by commonly agreed religious precepts.

The Quran was never intended to be a 'free for all' with interpretations so diverse that no community could reasonably be expected to base their social and legal frameworks on it. The Quran is not simply a personal textbook for the individual. It is a guidance intended to allow a community based religion to flourish.

I would strongly advise brothers and sisters to coalesce around stable interpretations with a view to become a cogent viable alternative to the traditional thought process.


REFERENCES:

[1] MY BELIEFS IN A NUTSHELL
https://m.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/499283410208791
[2] QURAN-CENTRISM
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2622

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1416375901832866


REMAINING INTELLECTUALLY HONEST WITH THE QURAN. THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION

Despite the Quran favouring an egalitarian lean to a primary Arab audience where arguably the societal tilt was in parts oppressive and unjust, there is no escaping the fact that the Quran also provides a religious remit in which it expects its adherents to operate.

It is my humble view, that if one feels the following is unacceptable from either a moral / philosophical / practical or religious standpoint and a true God would never have instituted these religious boundaries, then it is far more intellectually honest to dismiss the religion in the Quran as errant than to attempt to dissect and wrought the Quran by misrepresenting it to conform to one's worldviews. In the end, the Quran makes no compulsion in religion after it has made its narratives clear.

[1] The Quran rejects any physical intimacy outside the confines of holy matrimony (the sacred covenant of wedlock) which it accepts as lawful between a man and a woman. Any sexual pursuits by any gender outside this restricted ambit are considered a transgression by the Quran.

[2] In the confines of a household, the Quran places huge weight and the 'primary' burden to ensure financial responsibility, maintenance, fairness, justice and accountability on the shoulders of men. The Quran thus espouses a 'broadly' patriarchal approach to how it views an ideal familial structure should operate. However, this does not mean 'male domination' or a lack of compassion/justice. The Quran also brings forth rights to protect the interests of women (rights to inheritance / property/ earnings / opportunities / marital rights et al) which women have often been deprived of in many cultures today and of yore.

[3] The Quran expects its adherents to uphold certain rituals as part of worship. They should not be dismissed or 'read out' of the Quran by new-fangled interpretations without warrant.

[4] The Quran places great emphasis on justice and mercy. It also places great emphasis on exemplary punishments to be meted out as deterrents. This is with a view to avoid the proliferation of anarchy, lewdness/hedonism and general corruption (including the severance of legitimate rights), becoming the norm as part of society. The Quran makes it clear that powerful nations have been utterly decimated when a society reaches this point of transgression and there is no change in God's approach to destruction when the conditions of wantonness are met.

Of course, I have too at times, wrestled with narratives from the Quran and it has never always been easy to set aside my own modern biases / sensibilities when interpreting the Quran. However, to exercise as much fairness as one can muster during any exegesis, it is also true that one must allow the Quran to speak.

[Direct Facebook Link:]

Direct Facebook Link:

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.a.islam/posts/1413603712110085


SENTIMENT

Never be afraid of asking questions others are afraid to ask...