Messages

121

General Discussions / Captives of War

« on: August 11, 2012, 08:58:48 PM »

Dear All, Salam

I just read a verse that says:

[Asad] 33:50 O PROPHET! Behold, We have made lawful to thee thy wives unto whom thou hast paid their dowers, as well as those whom thy right hand has come to possess from among the captives of war whom God has bestowed upon thee. And [We have made lawful to thee] the daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts, and the daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with thee [to Yathrib]; and any believing woman who offers herself freely to the Prophet and whom the Prophet might be willing to wed: [this latter being but] a privilege for thee, and not for other believers - [seeing that] We have already made known what We have enjoined upon them with regard to their wives and those whom their right hands may possess. [And] in order that thou be not burdened with [undue] anxiety - for God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace –

How do we understand the above verse against another that says captives of war must be released or exchanged (for ransom or prisoners)? Sorry, forgetting the verse number.

Thanks.

122

General Discussions / Re: four birds or four parts of the bird

« on: June 27, 2012, 11:13:05 PM »

Dear Friends, Thanks for your input.

for those of us who are mere students, this issue of interpretation becomes extremely confusing. Consider what is going on:

Two different groups, having extensive knowledge of Arabic differing over this issue of Miracles !!

What is a common man supposed to do?

That leads me to another major point I have with religion:

When a Prophet is alive, all such matters are resolved by an authority sent by Allah. When the Prophet is no longer with us within a few years, disputes over interpretation emerge and then conflict starts. Take the differences over Imamat vs Khilafat dispute between Shias and Sunnis. Each argue that their position is right. Now, with the Prophet no longer around what this leads to is division and it's consequences.

Question is when such major disputes arise, how are we to resolve them with no Divine Interpreter present. Sure we have the Qur'an but people differ over it's meaning as well!!

Sometimes, in such situations one wishes that another Messenger arrives and settles such disputes uniting the Ummah.  Since that is no longer the case what are we supposed to do? Differ with grace and agree to disagree? In certain matters not vital for peace we can do so but how about sectarian conflicts. Look what is going on in Syria. It is about to blow up taking down Lebanon with it.

123

General Discussions / Re: four birds or four parts of the bird

« on: June 26, 2012, 04:01:06 AM »

Salam Br Joseph,

To remind us, what exactly was the sign relating to the she camel in 017:059?

Thanks.               

124

General Discussions / Re: four birds or four parts of the bird

« on: June 26, 2012, 12:35:28 AM »

Dear Truth Seeker, I see your point; There is room for allegory in the Qur'an but it must be used with wisdom.

The other day, upon asking the possiblity of Miracles, I received the following reply which I would like to include in our discussion:


".....Please ponder over implication of verses 6:101 and 10:64 read together.
 
Mohsin Khan: 6:100 .....
 and they attribute falsely without knowledge sons and daughters to Him.
 Be He Glorified and Exalted above all that (evil) they attribute to Him.

Mohsin Khan: 6:101 He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth.

How can He have children when He has no wife?

He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything .

Transliteration 10:64 ... la tabdeela likalimati Allahi .....
Mohsin Khan: 10:64 ...... No change can there be in the Words of Allah. ......
 
Now, see what above verses telling us............?"

The Brother who replied wants to know how can Jesus be born without a father when Allah is highlighting a law here through a question to the Mushriks?

Those opposing miracles assert that the word Mujiza means an incident that renders the intellect "Aajiz" (unable to comprehend). Furhter, they say, Allah wants us to accept his deen based on logic and intellect and not by confounding it. Okay, that is true started with the blessed Muhammad. What about His dealings through Messengers before Muhammad?

Kindly comment. Thanks.

125

General Discussions / Re: four birds or four parts of the bird

« on: June 25, 2012, 06:54:40 AM »

Dear Friends, Salam

The issue seems to be whether Allah sticks to His Ways/Laws (By choice) or not. Does He chooses, sometimes, to change laws of nature?

Parwez and Dr. Shabbir seem to suggest that He does not (He can but chooses not to) based on an ayah or two which says the we will not find Allah Changing His Ways. Some suggest read in context, it means He does not changes His ways when dealing with the rise and fall of nations and not laws of nature.

This creates many issues with interpretation like the topic being discussed here, birth of Jesus. Jesus speaking from the cradle, Jesus giving life and death by Allah's leave. Jesus breathing a soul into a clay bird and releasing it in air, Moses's encounter with the magicians in Pharoes' court and his stick swallowng up their snakes. Ants and birds talking in the story of Solomon. A few incidences regarding the Queen Sheba story, etc. etc.

We also repeatedly read about the Mushriks demanding a Miracle which is not granted but the possiblity of miracles is not denied either. They were told that producing miracles in the past did not work for some who are predisposed towards unbelief. If fact we read that Allah warns them if a Miracle was to be granted and if the Mushriks still did not believe they  would not be given a chance to repent (if I remember the verse correctly).

It is important, therefore, as Br Joseph suggested to further explore whether Allah uses miracles to advance His Deen or not or rather before the blessed Muhammad, whether, based on the Bible as well, He used Miracles to advance His Deen. The New Testament is full of marvellous miracles!!

Regards

126

Islamic Duties / Re: Wudu - wiping hands over socks

« on: May 07, 2012, 08:04:30 PM »

Your response makes sense Br Joe.

Can you imagine if you need to use a sink at a McDonald's (or any other such dining place) to perform wudu and put your feet in it to wash your feet? What kind of impression would that leave to those watching you!

Deen must be applied with wisdom so that it becomes a rehmat for others and not zehmat!!

127

Islamic Duties / Voice tone in salat

« on: May 07, 2012, 08:00:22 PM »

Dear Friends

We read Say: 17:110 "Call Him Allah or call Him Ar-Rahman; whatever the name you call Him by, all His names are beautiful." Do not say your prayers too loudly or in too low a voice, but follow a middle coarse.

Does this mean we must, when every we offer Salat, utter it in the above manner (neither too loudly or in too low a voice)? Why don't the Muslims do this in the masajids and at home?

Thanks.

128

General Discussions / Re: Ignore or Reply ? Your Views

« on: May 05, 2012, 10:14:02 PM »

Although this point of following the Rasool has been dealt with by many people lot more knowledgeable than myself on this forum , a couple of issues emerge:
 
1. If we keep in our mind the fact that these verses were revealed 1400 years ago to a group of people who had their doubts about Islam or were not sure how to respond to blessed Messenger's role and call. They were being told in clear terms what the role of the Messener was and as Allah's sole representative and that he had to be obeyed as head of the community. They were asked to listen to him as someone who was conveying Allah's Message to them and not to turn away. He may also be giving them other instructions, about their every day lives in view of Allah's Word, specific to those times. So where ever we read verses about obeying the Messenger as a representative of Allah means it was a question of authority and discipline. We find in history that there were certain opinions the Messenger gave on matters based on his personal opinion that were not related to Allah's Word and people had a right to accept or excuse themselves . As far as we are concerned, we must follow what Allah through His Messenger left behind and promised to guard it: The Qur'an alone.

2. If the blessed Messenger's sayings and deeds were of the utmost importance (as claimed by Hadith followers) then the question would arise that why were no instructions came down to compile and collect them in a seperate Book for all times to come? It was well known what happened to stories based on hearsay over time: They get corrupted and mixed up with falsehood. The Messenger himself knew well what happened to the Christians who ended up turning man to God and God to man, based on hearsay stories which got written down much later after Jesus (AS)! He could have given insructions to compile a book, verified it and approved it for Muslims of future generations. The first four Caliphs would have done it. Why did they not?
 
What we have here are collections by Sunnis and Shias often at odds with each other and containing material that clashes with the Qur'an. How can then, deen be based on conjecture and contraversial material collected 220 years after the Messenger passed on, based on hearsay?
 
Although we can never say for sure if a report of saying/deed is 100% truth, we can allow the possiblity of such material being true if only matches the Qur'an. Also we may read it as students of history to get an idea of the times of those who were gathering this material and a glimpse of early Islamic history. Knowingly and unknowingly we have adopted many practices handed down to us over generations and no harm in following them if they don't clash with the Qur'an.
 
Now, I have heard from many hadith believers that if the Qur'an was passed on to us with the same accuracy by people over generations, why can't it apply to ahadith? Well, the answer to that is that the Qur'an has an assurance of preservation from Allah. How He does it is His business. No such promise was given to ahadith and the Messengers sunnah. Here cornered, the hadith believers don't give up. They counter Hadith is part of Zikr and part of Hikmah so it is preserved as well by Allah!! Some of them even suggest that this being the case, Hadith abrogates the Qur'an!
 
Try all you can. You can't win can you? But, as the Qur'an says we must state the truth and guidance is upto Him Alone.

129

Women / Re: Women clothes code

« on: May 05, 2012, 10:04:10 PM »

For those who can understand Urdu, here is a good discussion on the subject where all sides participate:

Niqab/Hijab debate:

Part one
http://www.meezan.tv/videos/331/veil-in-islam-and-west-(1)-practical-issues-of-modern-age-javed-ahmad-ghamidi

Part Two
http://www.meezan.tv/videos/332/veil-in-islam-and-west-(2)-practical-issues-of-modern-age-javed-ahmad-ghamidi

130

General Discussions / Re: What do they recognize??

« on: March 11, 2012, 07:41:10 AM »

Salam Br Joseph

Sorry for the confusion.

Since several interpretations are possible with respect of what the subject of recognition could be, I just stated what made more sense to me (the fact of God's Transcendental Uniqueness and Oneness).

Allow me to share a somewhat lengthy discussion on this topic that took place here:

http://free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9603614.0

All the best.

131

General Discussions / "Be" refers to a process of Cause and Effect?

« on: March 10, 2012, 08:32:38 PM »

Dear All, Salam

We read in 6:101

the Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could it be that He should have a child without there ever having been a mate for Him - since it is He who has created everything, and He alone knows everything?

Could a critic not ask that in many places when it comes to Allah's powers, all He has to say "Be" and it is? [no explanation necessary].

Can we then assume that where ever Allah says "Be" it means a process of cause and effect starts and every thing just not appears "Poof" as in a magic. This can apply to creation of the universe which took a very long time to develop.

In other words, this universe is run on the basis of cause and effect which we may refer to a natural law of which the Creator is the Cause of Causes.

Thanks

132

General Discussions / Re: What do they recognize??

« on: March 10, 2012, 08:22:50 PM »

Salam Brother Joseph

I do see your point but still am still struggling accept it as does Allah not make a distinction between Ahl Kitab and idol worshippers [who setup partners with Allah]?

For now, to me Dr Shabbir's rendering makes more sense, and of course we can agree to disagree

Those who have been given the Scripture, recognize this fact as they recognize their sons (the fact of God's Transcendental Uniqueness and Oneness). Yet those who have squandered their own "Self" fail to accept such undeniable Truth.

133

General Discussions / Re: Jin

« on: March 10, 2012, 08:11:21 PM »

Please refer to 6:100 where we read:
 
Yet the infidels incorporate with Him the Jinn as partners of Omnipotence and Authority albeit He brought the Jinn into being and caused them to exist. And in ignorance they insolently ascribe to Him sons and daughters; glory be to Him and extolled are His glorious attributes, He is infinitely far beyond all they falsely attribute to Him.

Does that not mean that Allah is referring to some folks who were not only familiar with the Jinn, but regarded them as associates with Allah? The question is who were these Jinns/hidden beings those folks were referring to?

Thanks.

134

General Discussions / Re: What do they recognize??

« on: March 10, 2012, 07:51:58 AM »

Salam Br Joseph

The question that remains to be answered is if, as you say "....So what is being recognised is, the Prophet with the fact that he has spoken the truth by virtue of the Quran in his capacity as a messenger of God..." then why did they not accept him?

Thanks.

135

General Discussions / Re: Relationship between believers and Muhammad (S)

« on: March 08, 2012, 04:44:59 AM »

Thanks for commenting Chadiga.

The Qur'an says that if was not from Allah, we would have found many contradictions in it.

Sure, when the Messenger was alive, Allah told those who were formulating their beliefs, what the role of a Messenger is. Had they any doubts, verses like these helped to settle for them which camp they belonged. It told them, for example that their allegiance belonged not only in terms of a verbal acceptance but it was more than that and it involved their whole hearted support.

I agree wali (protector, along with Allah) was valid when the Messenger was alive. Now we have only ONE Wali who is Allah SWT.

If we read the principle here, all else falls into place:

3:79 Never would a human being, whom Allah has blessed with the Scripture, Wisdom and Prophethood, thereafter say to people, "Be servants of me instead of Allah. Rather, he would say, "Become true devotees of the Lord since you learn and teach the Book and study it as it should be studied"