Messages

['Shall I give my firstborn for my sin, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' (Micah 6:7 )]

Peace Joseph,

I do not believe the source of the vision was God but of course He knowingly allowed it to be interpreted that way to create a paradigm shift.  Ritual human sacrifice has been in the human psyche for so long. Aztecs, Incas, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans. Remember Agamemnon wants to sacrifice his daughter Iphegenia to Artemis who stops the wind?


'Shall I give my firstborn for my sin, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?' (Micah 6:7 ),
Isaiah 30:27–33 indicates an acceptance of child sacrifice in the early Jerusalem practices, to which the law in Leviticus 20:2–5 forbidding child sacrifice is a response.

Quran 6:137  And in like manner, their associate gods have made killing their children seem fair to many pagans, so that they may ruin them and cause confusion in their religion. Had God pleased, they would not have done so; so leave them to their false inventions.

[Forbearing" (Quran, 2:225)]

Salaam Joseph,

Thanks for your reply and reminding me to follow the Quran narration. 

Abraham prays for a salihin son; he is given a halim son.  When he attains the age of working along with his father, Abraham wants to test his faith and submissiveness to God, thus  talks to him about his vision of sacrificing his son who is, knowing that God is with those who are persevering in submission to Him, submits to the Divine Will.


"Allah does not call you to account for what is vain of your oaths, but He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned, and Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing" (Quran, 2:225).


Some of Allah's messengers are recognized as Haleem; for example, Abraham, the Friend of Allah, is described as, "... most surely Abraham was very tender-hearted, forbearing" (9:114), and in Surat Hud, he is praised likewise: "Most surely Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, oft-returning (to Allah)" (11:75).

"So we gave him the glad tidings of a boy [Ishmael] possessing forbearance" (Quran, 3:101).

Al- Haleem quite often overlooks sins and covers up shortcomings.  Al-Haleem shields those who indulge in sins with His forgiveness, pardons those who violate His laws,  is not slighted by the rebellion of the rebellious, and no oppression of any oppressor can ever provoke Him.  He shows gentleness because He is so powerful can delay judgment.

At the human level, haleem knows how to overcome his emotions and passions, calms down his anger when insulted, restrains himself from doing violence.

"And We gave him in exchange a Great Sacrifice" can be understood at the physical level as the Great Sacrifice of animals abolishing the practice of human sacrifice; and on the spiritual level, the animal in man was to be sacrificed to the divine in him.

Salaam Wakas,

I cannot connect 37:108 with 109.  Is the salutation left for him?  Then it is not a reward for Abraham exclusively since PBUH is on all nabis.

Salaam all,

It would also solve my existential problem as well as social dilemma  as a 'dead beat' dad.

Peace,

Maybe it is because the salvation the Hadith offers is much easier to attain than the Quranic way like if you can count to 1000- recite a magical formula than you reserve a place in the Paradise.  It is a hard bargain to overlook.  Maybe the hearts are sealed; they cannot see.  Only God knows.  All we can do is put it on a plate and offer, the rest is up to them.

Salaam to all those who may be affected by Sandy

You are in my thoughts and prayers.  May God keep you safe.

Salaam,

It is not a characteristic of Abraham not to question the wisdom behind his interpretation of the dream. 

"My Lord is He who gives life and takes it away"; "O Lord! Show me how thou gives life to the dead....yes! but my heart needs some sign of assurance"

In his symbolic story, he reasons with his heart and discovers his connection with God.  He would abandon his father just like Moses abandons the Pharaoh's court or Muhammad his home and heritage in pursuit of God.  Yet Abraham prays for his father.

If I can put myself in his shoes, the result would be different.  I would tear my heart out begging that He take my life instead of asking me to do the impossible or take away both of our lives right there.  If I receive no response, then I would have to choose the punishment and kill myself. 

I am not trying to be melodramatic; just trying to reason with my heart. I am given two things- my life and my child.  My life is a total gift in that I had no say so in my coming to life whereas with the child I'm a co-creator with the God-given maternal instinct that I cannot turn it off.

Salaam Duster,

Only the son can make that decision based on the premise 'my life, my sacrifice ... for God", not Abraham since it is not his life.  As a parent it is the most difficult thing to do.  I would give my life rather than take part in the act.  What would you do?

Salaam,

I wanted to ask why when it is forbidden to take the life of a soul would Allah ask Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son? Would it not have appeared strange to him and then prompt him to question the source of such a dream?

I believe sister Saba is only questioning why Prophet Abraham was so quick to conclude that the source of his dream was God, knowing that God would not demand an innocent person to be killed.

Salaam Adil,

As long as it is not forbidden, it is fine with me
I wish everyday was an id to remind us of the  "khayrul-raziqina"

Salaam all,

Happy Eid al adha Mubarak

["Surely he (Jesus) (brought into the world without a father, and granted such miracles as reviving the dead) is a means to knowledge of the Last Hour, so do not feel any doubt concerning it and follow Me (to attain eternal happiness in the other life). This is a straight path.]

Dear Talib,

I am honored that you ask my view regarding verse 43:61.  First of all, let me make clear that I do not know any arabic, thus my views are limited by the translations.   What I can gather from many translations, three distinct patterns of thought appear:

1.  Heavily influenced by the 'second coming of Jesus' before the end of time.

2. Ali Unal: "Surely he (Jesus) (brought into the world without a father, and granted such miracles as reviving the dead) is a means to knowledge of the Last Hour, so do not feel any doubt concerning it and follow Me (to attain eternal happiness in the other life). This is a straight path."  He probably means Jesus is a sign of the end of time /judgment day when all will be resurrected like he revived the birds.

3. This revelation regarding Jesus as the last nabi of Israelites is evidence of the knowledge of the Hour of departure of the prophethood from the house of Israel to the house of Ishmael as prophesied in the Bible Matthew 21  The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard

33 "Listen to another parable," Jesus said. "There was once a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. 34 When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his slaves to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. 35 The tenants grabbed his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again the man sent other slaves, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all he sent his son to them. 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and we will get his property!' 39 So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 "Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" Jesus asked.
41 "He will certainly kill those evil men," they answered, "and rent the vineyard out to other tenants, who will give him his share of the harvest at the right time."
42 Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read what the Scriptures say?
'The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
    turned out to be the most important of all.
This was done by the Lord;
    what a wonderful sight it is!'
43 "And so I tell you," added Jesus, "the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the proper fruits." 44
45 The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables and knew that he was talking about them, 46 so they tried to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

therefore do not doubt about the truth of Quran and follow me as I am your promised nabi,
John 16:12-13
King James Version
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

[salati]

Salaam all,

Brother Joseph said today:

Peace to those brothers and sisters that are performing the pilgrimage for the sake of God (2.196). May God IA accept your devotions and observance of certain rites (Manasik)

which inspired me to pay more attention to this rite related to the Hajj.

The doctrine of submission to Allah,which is the Right Path and the Right religion [ 6:162-163 ] manifests in the belief that God is the Supreme in Authority and my Salat (salati) and my sacrifice (nusuki) in the service of Allah and my living (maḥyāya)in the service of humanity, and my dying (mamātī) in the cause of Truth, are all for the sake of Allah.

Mansakan  (rite of sacrifice)  related to Hajj is a ceremonial sacrificial slaughter  of a cattle God has provided.   Since their flesh or the blood never reaches God, the act of sacrifice is also symbolic on the spiritual level.

For every people We have appointed rites of sacrifice, so that they may pronounce the name of God over the cattle which He has provided for them. Your God is One God; surrender yourselves to Him; and give good news to the humble.  22:34


By pronouncing the name of Allah, I am being asked to remember My God as the One God that I should submit, showing my readiness to sacrifice my whole life symbolized in my sacrificing the animal.
I give glad tidings  to  the devoted who are humble who have sacrificed themselves for the benefit of fellowmen;whose hearts tremble in reverence just like the animal in submission experiences the same anxiety.


   

Dear sister Saba,

Salaam Hope, can you please clarify / provide evidence for the above. How are connecting dust with the meaning of wise man?

This is my understanding of the human race as a synthesis of revelation and science.  Evolution theory shows that the human body has evolved from primates millions years ago, based on archaeological remains.  It was classified as "homo erectus" when they could walk on two feet; "homo neanderthalensis" during stone age;  The last stage is called 'homo sapiens' which means "wise man".  I understand Adam as the  "progenitor" of the homo sapiens who possess cognitive capacities.  It is a new creation based on evolved human body.  This understanding also explains the angels reservation concerning the human race up to that point creating corruption and  bloodshed.

http://www.becominghuman.org/node/human-lineage-through-time

[And it is not revealed to any mortal that Allah should speak to him except in three forms as by Wahi or inspiration, as was with the mother of Musa, 28:7, and the disciples of Isa, 5:111, or from behind a veil making the words heard or a vision like fire seen by Musa, 20:10, and the miraj of Muhammad, or He sends a messenger who then reveals with His command what He pleases.]

Salaam,

And it is not revealed to any mortal that Allah should speak to him except in three forms as by Wahi or inspiration, as was with the mother of Musa, 28:7, and the disciples of Isa, 5:111, or from behind a veil making the words heard or a vision  like fire seen by Musa, 20:10, and the miraj of Muhammad, or He sends a messenger who then reveals with His command what He pleases. as He sends Jibril to the nabis, or a malak to the non-nabis like Maryam.

Quran is called a Wahi. I want to point out a difference between the wahi's received by nabis and the non-nabis and the wahis to prompt an action.  If you want to say inspiration for Quran, then call all the other incidents  revelation. That is the point I tried to make but looks like I have been unsuccessful.