Messages

31

General Discussions / Re: Question about the Islamic lunar year

« on: February 27, 2017, 10:20:26 AM »

Dear Shahmatt,

Wa alaikum assalam

I hope the related thread from 2011 below assists, God willing

Moon Calendar
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=171

Regards,
Joseph

Thank you for your reply. It answers my question.

Wassalam

32

General Discussions / Question about the Islamic lunar year

« on: February 24, 2017, 10:41:46 AM »

Salaams.

I have noticed that in the Chinese and South East Asia region calendars the lunar year is reset every few years.

This has the consequence of causing celebrations like the New Year to fall within the January and February months and never stray into the later months of March. 

A similar pattern is followed in the Buddhist and Hindu cultures of Sri Lanka, India and subcontinental nations.

I believe that this practice has its roots in order to align with the harvesting seasons. It seems like this practice would naturally manifest in any society because the seasons would reset with the solar year of about 365 days and not in every 12 lunar months.

I would like to know if the Islamic method of strictly adhering to the lunar calendar has basis in the Quran or historical precedent.

Wassalam.

33

Discussions / Re: Typo in article titled "Gabriel"

« on: February 03, 2017, 10:18:04 AM »

I just discovered that ff is an abbreviation for 'folio'

Please ignore my comment.

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Discussions / Typo in article titled "Gabriel"

« on: January 25, 2017, 02:35:38 PM »

Salaams. There appears to be a typo here (underlined):

"Therefore, it seems that is was not an angel that visited Mary in the incident covering the Quranic narratives in verses 19:17ff, but a 'Spirit'. If the Biblical perspective is accepted whereby Gabriel visited Mary to give glad tiding of a son, then the Spirit mentioned in the Quranic narrative would imply it to be Gabriel. Such a synonymy of Gabriel and the Holy / Faithful Spirit has already been noted in the Quranic verses cited above (2:97, 16:102 and 26:192-195).

However, in verses 19:17ff, it appears that the Quran deliberately avoids using the term 'angel' in the comparable narratives concerning Mary when it could have done so as in verse 3:45. This is 'possibly' with a view to depart from the Christian understanding that Gabriel was in fact an angel."

As always, thank you for the insightful articles.

35

Resources and Information Portal / War is a Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler

« on: December 11, 2016, 11:41:42 PM »

https://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html

This is a short essay written by a highly decorated American Major General who served three decades as a US Marine in the early 20th century. Much of what he has written is still relevant today.

36

Prophets and Messengers / Re: Prophet Muhammad receiving guidance later in life

« on: November 10, 2016, 04:28:36 PM »

Thanks very much. This answers my question.

37

Prophets and Messengers / Prophet Muhammad receiving guidance later in life

« on: November 10, 2016, 03:10:50 PM »

Assalamu alaikum,

I refer to the article "Exclusiveness" (see link below) and specifically the second point under "PROPHET JESUS'S (pbuh) EXCLUSIVITY":
http://quransmessage.com/articles/exclusiveness%20of%20prophet%20muhammad%20FM3.htm

Can Joseph Islam, or any other kind soul here, please provide reference to the statement that prophet Muhammad received guidance later in life?

Thanks in advance for any help.

38

General Discussions / Re: How to recite while praying behind an Imam

« on: August 26, 2016, 03:35:13 PM »

From what I understand from the Quran,

1. There is no requirement that its verses be repeated as part of prayer. However some surahs and excerpts of surahs appear to be designed such that it can be used in prayer - e.g Surah Fathiha.

2. Prayer should be uttered in a moderate tone of voice. However in the case of Imam lead prayer it would arguably be the Imam's voice that represents the prayer of the individual. Therefore the individual could perhaps simply listen, recite softly along with the Imam, cry Ameen in agreement, or even pray independently whilst generally following the Imam's call to change position.

Though the Quran does not make explicit that prayer in congregation must involve changing pose together. I would suggest that it is beneficial psychologically (for peace of mind) to do this.

39

General Discussions / Interlinguistic pun in the Qur'an

« on: July 01, 2016, 11:04:08 AM »

https://ponderingislam.com/2016/06/30/interlinguistic-pun-in-the-quran/

The above was posted on the islamawakened facebook page. I'm just reposting here for general interest.

40

General Discussions / Re: regarding 33:27

« on: June 14, 2016, 06:34:27 PM »

All things are subject to God's will.

In the case of 21:79 we see an example of mountains and birds exalting God, because God willed that it be done.

IMO it is similar to the sun rising, because the sun rises by God's will, or the waves breaking on rocks along a shore, because the waves break by God's will.

41

General Discussions / Re: regarding 33:27

« on: June 14, 2016, 11:53:49 AM »

@munir rana,

Presumably volition would have been given to the mountains had vicegerency been accepted.

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General Discussions / Re: regarding 33:27

« on: June 13, 2016, 12:26:49 PM »

A very interesting question and perspective from Joseph Islam. Thanks very much.

43

General Discussions / Re: On using leather products

« on: June 07, 2016, 11:02:11 AM »

Salaams Nura, thank you for the reply.

Just to clarify further. I am looking for guidance from a consumer of animal byproduct point of view. When going around the shops one may encounter the following categories of animal byproducts:

1. Byproducts from halal animals sacrificed in a halal manner primarily for food, e.g: leather from cow
2. Byproducts from halal animals sacrificed in a non-halal manner primarily for food, e.g: leather from cow killed by stunning.
3. Byproducts from non-halal animals sacrificed in a non-halal manner primarily for food, e.g - leather from swine
4. Byproducts from non-halal animals sacrificed in a non-halal manner primarily not for food, e.g - ivory from elephants

From a moral standpoint I would reject item 4 on the basis that the animal was killed for unjust purposes and not for eating. Item 1 is clearly allowed and there is no problem.

For item 2 very often the manner in which the animal was killed is unknown as this information is not published. Believers living in predominantly Muslim nations may not need to worry too much but what about non-Muslim nations?

For item 3 I suppose that while the product itself is not forbidden the purchase of such items would add to demand. However since the animal is killed primarily for food the purchase of swine byproduct may not necessarily contribute to more killing of swine. On this basis I might purchase and use swine byproduct where it is the only alternative - e.g - rugby balls.

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General Discussions / Re: On using leather products

« on: June 06, 2016, 09:28:01 PM »

Salaams Joseph Islam,

Thanks for your reply.

Can you please provide guidance as to how a believer might view items made of animal byproduct wherein there is a likelihood that the animal may not have been slaughtered in a manner consistent with what may be Islamic?

45

General Discussions / On using leather products

« on: June 03, 2016, 03:51:50 PM »

I have read Joseph Islam's article on 'Slaughter' here:

http://quransmessage.com/articles/slaughtering%20of%20animals%20-%20the%20correct%20method%20of%20sacrifice%20FM3.htm

I note that the method by which an animal is put to death is specified.

This is mostly done in the context of food, but I presume that it would generally be applicable to killing an animal for any purpose.

If such is the case then unfortunately much of the leather products in my household would likely have been extracted from animals killed in an unlawful manner.