Messages

361

General Discussions / Re: Does 5:33 applies/applied to those insulting Allah and His Messenger?

« on: September 28, 2012, 04:27:00 AM »

Salaam all,

This verse, as brother  Mubashir, pointed out is not about insulting.  Insult is a psychological assault on your nafs.  That is why God wants us to ignore it; do not let your ego get flared.  I understand the [waging war on Allah and His Messenger] to be not following the commands of Allah verbalized by the Prophet.  The corrupters are those who cause fasad in different ways: fasad that includes murder, theft, armed robbery or rape.  Punishments would be different.  They can be killed or hanged rather than crucified  or life in prison without parole.

362

General Discussions / Re: Wahi and 33:62 ?

« on: September 26, 2012, 02:52:59 AM »

Salaam,

Two examples of God's unchanging manner with the wicked in the past:

As for Thamud, We showed them the right path, but they preferred blindness to guidance, consequently they were hit by the humiliating punishment of a dreadful noise which they deserved because of their misdeeds". ( 41:17)

Referring to the downfall of Pharaoh's people, the Holy Qur'an says: "That is because Allah does not withdraw the favour He has bestowed on any people unless they first change what is in their hearts, and that is because Allah is Hearer, Knower". ( 8:53)

363

General Discussions / Re: Wahi and 33:62 ?

« on: September 25, 2012, 09:39:16 PM »

Salaam Talib,

My understanding of 33:62 is not about the laws of nature but about sunnatullah regarding those who cause fasad in the world  And when it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on the earth,'' they say: "We are only peacemakers.  2.217: "to prevent mankind from following the Way of Allâh, to disbelieve in Him."

God given intellect alone is not sufficient, God's proof is substantiated by means of the fitrah in every person, the root of all spiritual matters as opposed to by means of the tabi'ah (nature) in every person, the root of all material and instinctive matters. It is hoped that the man choose his way of fitrah.

364

General Discussions / Re: Is Man too ever living?

« on: September 25, 2012, 09:17:21 AM »

Salaam,

Human beings cannot exist independently without the Divine Will nor can they will without His permission. Actually no creation exists independently without the Creator.  Maybe the question was focused on the possible  everlasting nature of Hell and Heaven.  Nothing is everlasting except God.  55:26-27  Souls are created, too.

365

Islamic Duties / Re: Why wudu?

« on: September 25, 2012, 06:30:37 AM »

Salam,

Thanks.  Are you emphasizing the notion that the inconvenience of wudu should not be perceived as a hardship but as a nimatullah?  Since blessings  lead (should) to the human act of gratitude.  14/7  if you give thanks, I will give you more.  Then it becomes the spiritual purification rather than the physical.

366

Islamic Duties / Re: Why wudu?

« on: September 25, 2012, 01:57:03 AM »

salam orange,

appreciate your reply; yet the question was 'why' rather than 'how'.  If you are trying to say [because God said so], no arguments from me. 

367

Islamic Duties / Why wudu?

« on: September 22, 2012, 11:09:38 AM »

Salaam all,


Why is wudu  prescribed before salat?  Some claim that since we are in the presence of God we need to be respectful by being clean.  I personally never feel clean by just wetting my face and arms without soap.  Never tried the soil method; it sounds even worse for cleaning purposes.  The answer seems to be scientific.

Quantum theory   taught us the wave/particle duality.  Very simply put, energy and matter interact.  Mass and energy are interchangeable.  Matter gets rid of its mass if it travels with the speed of light and becomes energy.  When energy congeals or slows down, it becomes inactive and materializes.

Every thought is a pulse of energy generated by the brain.  Human body also generates static electricity.  We can get super charged due to wearing certain fabrics.  Low humidity also leads to static build up in the body.  It needs to be grounded to neutralize the bio-electrical stress from the static electricity.

Water and soil rich in minerals  are good conductors for release.

During salah, head, face, hands are not usually covered  and the static electricity  buildup  on the skin  may interfere with the bio-electrical communication between us and the recorders that we salute on the right and left.

What do you think?  Makes sense to me.  I read this in Turkish written by a professor of neurology, Gazi özdemir.  His book is named Brain and Religion.  Couldn’t find it in English.  It is not a translation, just my understanding.

368

Prophets and Messengers / Rasul for earth only or anywhere in God's universe?

« on: September 20, 2012, 05:42:50 AM »

http://www.space.com/17659-interstellar-travel-religion-conflict.html

369

Discussions / Re: Islamic Secondary Sources

« on: September 20, 2012, 04:45:03 AM »

Salam all,

Did you know that on May 22, 2007, an Egyptian scholar was disciplined by Al Azhar University after he issued a fatwa calling upon women to breastfeed their male colleagues?  I am not making this up.

Dr Izzat Attiyah said that his fatwa offered a way around mixing of the sexes in the work place since breast-feeding established a maternal relation even if the beneficiary was not the woman's biological son or daughter.

However, following Islamic scholars' fierce denunciation of the fatwa as defamatory to Islam, Izzat retracted it.  It was denounced because breastfeeding applies to infants under the age 2 in the Quran and it is not permissible in the 4 main schools of thought.

Problem is that there exists a hadith regarding the issue although 'colleagues' are usually adults.



Sahih Muslim - Book 008, Number 3425:

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hadhaifa, lived with him and his family in their house. She (i. e. the daughter of Suhail came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Salim has attained (puberty) as men attain, and he understands what they understand, and he enters our house freely, I, however, perceive that something (rankles) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa, whereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said to her: Suckle him and you would become unlawful for him, and (the rankling) which Abu Hudhaifa feels in his heart will disappear. She returned and said: So I suckled him, and what (was there) in the heart of Abu Hudhaifa disappeared.


Although the fatwa is humorous by itself, what amazes me is the fact that al-Azhar instead of re-examining their position regarding hadith, they dismissed it by saying this is not the only scholar, there are many who have deviated, trying to exploit islam in a wrong way and bring out the wrong message.

370

General Discussions / Re: Our Way or Allah's Way?

« on: September 19, 2012, 03:40:19 AM »

Thank you for the post.  Tawfik Hamid is so correct.  Misinterpretation of verses 33:21 and 59:7 lead to  the Khayru-l-Khalq or "Best of Creation" title
http://www.livingislam.org/n/bc_e.html

Prophet Muhammad is a model for humanity in peace and war in having taqwa of Allah and being true to the contract we made with Him.  Violence is not in the contract.

371

General Discussions / Re: Our Way or Allah's Way?

« on: September 18, 2012, 01:48:27 AM »

Salaam brother,

Thanks for the great post.    May the souls of those who have lost their lives rest in peace.  Just because they were humans, each carried the divine breath/essence in them.  As 25:58 reminds us that God is well aware of the wrong actions of His slaves.  Maybe we should redirect criticism and responsibility to ourselves.  God wants us to focus on the good essence of man and help him to develop his innate aspects.  Strive to win over the hearts purely for the sake of Allah.

O our Lord! Please place us among those who have attained wisdom and divine love. Make our hearts asource of love and mercy towards the creation of Allah for the sake of Allah

372

General Discussions / Re: Is there a clear difference between Jinns and men and Sons of Adam?

« on: September 06, 2012, 07:28:12 AM »

Peace Orange,

I apologize for offending you by my remarks.  Speaking behind a dead person must be a cultural no-no that I was not aware of.  I was sharing my perception of the mentality of the translators not judging them- that belongs to God.  I do not know them; never heard of them.  The one who is deceased may he rest in peace.

373

General Discussions / Re: We created GOD or GOD created us

« on: September 06, 2012, 06:13:43 AM »

Salaam,

To be fair, I think the questioner meant that the concept of God/Creator is a figment of our minds which is probably true for the creation of myths.  People were puzzled by natural phenomena they did not understand nor had any control over these events. They probably thought their world was ruled by unseen powers.  Thus the creation of stories about these events.  In a way they were empowered by the creation of idols in their minds because then they were able to direct these unseen powerful forces.  Rituals, sacrifices, ceremonies all for the appeasement of these forces for protection and blessings.  It is a common theme in the history of mankind all over the world that life was controlled by invisible beings.  And most of them were closely related to nature.  We see that in the Abraham's quest.  Actually the men were partially right.  They were all ilahs created in the mind until Abraham's quest led him to discover his relationship with one Creator.  He simply reasoned with his heart.

3:67  Abraham was neither a "Jew" nor a "Christian", but was one who turned away from all that is false, having surrendered himself unto God; and he was not of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him.  Asad translation

374

General Discussions / Re: Lifeless body on a throne??

« on: September 06, 2012, 03:18:48 AM »

Peace,

Sorry for dragging this issue but for some reason I feel compelled to be King/Prophet Solomon's advocate because as the Quran says he was a servant of God.   I respect Asad very much yet I do not agree with the characterization that Solomon  may be lacking ethical values in his governance. his kingly power, which was bound to remain "lifeless" so long as it was not inspired by God-willed ethical values[/color] [/color]

The impression I get is that his trial was regarding his attachment to worldly power and wealth.  After he loses the throne, he begs forgiveness for  any sins he may have committed knowingly or unknowingly. Negative portrayal of him is usually based on OT. Another thing is the impression given by the translators that He did slash the horses' legs when they were brought back to him.  He appreciated their beauty and skill which increased his awareness of God's artistry in creation.  Someone who was chosen as a prophet of God would not kill innocent animals.  Supposedly he did that because they were the cause of him missing his prayer time.  Always get rid of temptation instead of turning to your Lord for help in conquering your undesirable impulses.  Same mentality that sees the female gender as a temptation and cover them up instead of you controlling  yourself.

375

General Discussions / Re: Is there a clear difference between Jinns and men and Sons of Adam?

« on: September 05, 2012, 10:10:22 AM »

Salaam br Joseph,

I thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of my sisters for acknowledging our identity and not burying us in the sack as the three misogynist Quran interpreters have done.  They are Edward Henry Palmer, Ahmed Ali and Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali.  The last one translated the word as "seeds or sons of Adam"

FYI