الله تبارک وتعالى ہميں پڑهنے  ، لكهنے اور سننے سے زياده عمل كرنے كى توفيق عطا فرمائے (آمين).

 

--
Asadullah Syed

Imam Reza (pbuh) Festival to be hold in Iran

Imam Reza (pbuh) Festival to be hold in Iran

Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) is planning to hold the International Imam Reza (PBUH) Festival in thirty different countries.

Ahlul Bayt News Agency ; Iran's Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) is planning to hold the International Imam Reza (PBUH) Festival in thirty different countries.

This year, the ICRO will hold conferences, visual arts exhibitions, and film and theater festivals in an effort to introduce the eighth Shia Imam and his legacy to the world, ICRO cultural deputy Mohsen Pakayin said.

The 8th Shi'a leader, Imam Reza (PBUH), was born in Medina and is widely known for his extraordinary scholarship and saintly characteristics.

He is remembered today for his many outstanding qualities including his all-encompassing knowledge, kindness towards slaves, unshakable faith and nobility.

"Disseminating the Razavi [related to the eighth Shi'a Imam, Reza (PBUH)] culture as a manifestation of Islam is necessary for fulfilling man's cultural and spiritual needs," he added.

The International Imam Reza (PBUH) Festival will kick off late October in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad where the Imam has been laid to rest.

The festival will be held in 31 Iranian provinces and 30 countries, IRNA reported.

Iranian scholars will be sent to other host countries, international researchers will attend the event in Iran, and cultural products will be distributed among participants of the festival.

End item/ 129

http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=204539

--
Asadullah Syed

Bahrain Cracks Down on Peaceful Shias, Engages in Human Rights Violations

Bahrain Cracks Down on Peaceful Shias, Engages in Human Rights Violations

The Islamic Information Center joins the statement by the Arab Program for Human Rights, and reiterates its support for the innocent and peaceful people of Bahrain, who are victims of violent and radical oppression by the Bahraini government.

IIC and the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists follows with deep concern and disturbance the Bahraini authorities' torture of a number of activists, politicians, lawyers and some religious figures, on the backdrop of expressing their views in demanding political reform and defending human rights.

The human rights activists, Abdul Galil Sincece, Sheikh Mohammed Habib Mekdad, Shaikh Saeed Noori, Abdul Ghani Al Haggar as well as Dr. Mohamed Saeed, a member of Bahrain Center, were subjected to very cruel and degrading physical and mental torture in violation with the provision of Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights concerning the right of integrated body. In addition to their placement in solitary confinement and their exposure to all forms of physical torture, starting with beating, kicking, hanging by hands and feet, to the deprivation of sleep, food and drink, and leaving on their bodies clear signs of torture which were neglected by the prosecution during the investigation. The security authorities tried to evade the crime of torture, claiming that the activists had tried to flee and the security aborted the attempt.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain News Agency published on its website the name and picture of the activist Nabeel Ragab, Chairman of Bahrain Center for Human Rights, as a so called supporter of terrorism; shortly after, the Agency dropped the news from the site, thereby confirming the existence of an official policy to distort the image and reputation of activists, and an insistence on prosecuting and intimidating them to prevent them from practicing their peaceful activities, in violation of the terms and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Defenders.

Moreover, the authorities imposed the state of emergency, which led to the arrest of over 200 people whose whereabouts are still unknown and who are deprived of contacting their relatives or lawyers -- a violation of the provisions of Article 14 of the same Covenant on the rights of the detainees, who may immediately inform their relatives and defenders.

IIC and the Program believe that the acts of the Bahraini authorities are flagrant violations of all international conventions and international legal norms, and that they aim at muzzling and intimidating activists to prevent any advocacy of democratic reform or defense of human rights in Bahrain .

The Islamic Information Center emphasizes that the events in Bahrain , followed closely by coordinators and correspondents of APHRA, are a major rebound from the Kingdom's official political discourse, which is completely different from reality. Furthe, the Program stresses our full solidarity with our fellow activists in Bahrain ; we regard what happened as a great crime that should not remain covered up or bypassed; we shall work by all peaceful means to back up the activists and to see that they are released them unconditionally.

The Program calls upon the Kingdom of Bahrain to:

1. Release all detainees and human rights defenders and to guarantee the practice of their fundamental rights and freedoms. 
2. Immediately halt all security prosecution and stop the siege on the Shia villages. 
3. Immediately open an urgent investigation on the circumstances of these crimes and to hold accountability those responsible, regardless of their positions and responsibilities. 
4. Submit the criminals to trial and hold them accountable for what they have done.

Further, the Islamic Information Center calls upon community members to contact their congressional AND senate representative to discuss this issue and express serious concern. It is only through your action that the suffering of the Bahraini people can be alleviated.

http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=204688

--
Asadullah Syed

What ‘stealth jihad’ doesn’t mean.

The Misinformants

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Newt Gingrich addresses the Republican National Committee in May.

Here is the latest semantic assault from the party that brought you "Islamo-facism" (circa 2005) and "Axis of Evil" (2002). The term "stealth jihad" is suddenly voguish among politically ambitious right wingers who see President Obama's approach to terrorism as insufficient. If it sounds like a phrase from a military-fantasy summer blockbuster, that's on purpose: in its cartoonish bad-guy foreignness, "stealth jihad" attempts to make the terrorist threat broader and thus more nefarious than it already is. The only thing scarier than an invisible, homicidal, suicidal enemy with a taste for world domination is one who's sneaking up on you. In the words of former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich at a July speech at the American Enterprise Institute, "stealth jihad" is an effort "to replace Western civilization with a radical imposition of Sharia."

The term wasn't Gingrich's invention. It's the title of a two-year-old book by Robert Spencer, whose hyperventilating antiterror blog, Jihad Watch, is cited and circulated widely on the far right. But the recent vicious debate over the proposed community center and mosque near Ground Zero gives Gingrich an excuse to use "stealth jihad" and its variants frequently—not just at the AEI but in an interview with this magazine. (In an essay on the conservative Web site Human Events, he referred instead to "creeping sharia.") Gingrich's like-minded peers have seized on the language, too. "Muslim Brotherhood operatives, like [Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the center's founder and leader] are extremely skilled at obscuring … their true agenda," said Frank Gaffney, founder of the Center for Security Policy, on FOX's Glenn Beck show. "It's part of the stealth jihad."

'A Little Intolerant, But Good Reason To Be' Protesters for and against the building of a Muslim community center near Ground Zero talk about their reasons for supporting or opposing the project.

Words matter, and if you say them often enough and with enough authority, they start to sound true—even if they're not. Abdul Rauf, for instance, has no affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and is an "operative" (another nefarious word) only in the sense that running a small, progressive interfaith nonprofit is an "operation." As for his "stealth jihad," it's virtually impossible to imagine how such an event would—logistically—occur. Would the construction of an Islamic prayer site near Ground Zero inevitably lead American women to wake up one morning and find themselves veiled and confined to their homes? "The term is ever-so-slightly goofy," says Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguist at the University of California, Berkeley. The paranoia conveyed by "stealth jihad" brings to mind the anticommunist campaigns of Sen. Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s, Nunberg adds. Just as McCarthyites imagined a communist behind every lamppost, the word "stealth" conflates all Muslims with terrorists. In a stealth campaign you never know who your friends are.

Also, simply put, foreign words freak people out. "Jihad" and "Sharia" reinforce the sense among Americans that Muslims in general have an unfathomable world view. During World War II, formerly obscure words like "hara-kiri" and "kamikaze," which suggested the "warlike ferocity" of the Japanese, became common parlance, Nunberg says. "There was this sense of being confronted with this hostile, alien culture." The Japanese were "literally demonized," he says.

Gingrich has already used the mosque debate to evoke many of America's historic enemies, comparing Muslims indirectly with Nazis and communists and even the Japanese. "We would never accept the Japanese putting up a site next to Pearl Harbor," he said on FOX recently.

But that is not true. Fourteen percent of Hawaiians call themselves ethnically Japanese, according to the U.S. Census, and dozens of Japanese temples stand near Pearl Harbor—as they have for decades. One of them, the Buddhist Aiea Hongwanji Mission, is less than half a mile away. "You can see Pearl Harbor from the roof, maybe. We're really close," says Wade Yamamoto, the temple's treasurer. The temple allows people "to practice their religion from back home," he says. Gingrich, a historian, might take a lesson here. After the attacks of Dec. 7, 1941, more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent—two thirds of them American citizens—were interned in camps in a shameful episode that later legislation called the result of "race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership." Last week, a New York City cab driver was stabbed for answering the question "Are you a Muslim?" in the affirmative. Our enemies are dangerous. Let's be clear about who they are.

With Johannah Cornblatt

Lisa Miller is NEWSWEEK's religion editor and the author of Heaven:
Our Enduring Fascination With the Afterlife. Become a fan of Lisa on Facebook.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/28/stealth-jihad-conveys-paranoia.html

--
Asadullah Syed

The Active Principle of Islam, or, Activating Islamic Principles

The Active Principle of Islam, or, Activating Islamic Principles

Post by Amina Wadud

September 27, 2010

 

"There are no two ways about it. To understand the significance of this title requires some self-disclosure. Since the Islamic intellectual discourse has such a poor historical record of women's self-disclosure in the name of Islam, it is even more appropriate to admit to the personal as political.

When I returned to the United States after living for three years in Malaysia, where I'd had the opportunity to link my theories about Islamic theology with active social involvement, I encountered the bleakest circumstances. I found pervasive, systematic oppression and the resulting spiritual strain in the lives of ordinary people—causing most to live in utter disregard for their fellow human.

I found this unbearable, so I sought answers and resolutions by reading every kind of source material I could find. There was little consolation. At each juncture, I continued to find more literature focusing on the extent of the problems: psychological, physical, intellectual, social, economic, or political.

In the face of such massive problems, I felt utter despair. How can I despair, I thought; if I have faith? I was indebted to the insights of Paul Tillich:

"For in these days the foundations of the earth do shake. May we not turn our eyes away; may we not close our ears and our mouths! But may we rather see, through the crumbling of the world, the rock of eternity and the salvation which has no end!"

He cited the worldview of the prophets and holy men and women as expressions of the certainty of belonging "within the two spheres, the changeable and the unchangeable… Because, beyond the sphere of destruction, they saw the sphere of salvation; because in the doom of the temporal, they saw the manifestation of the Eternal"

In Islamic literature I hoped I would also find a cogent and viable spiritual system that linked the mystical and intellectual musings to what I was experiencing as a daily reality. The significance of Tillich's work was its expression in response to the moral/spiritual dilemmas of modern circumstances. I ran up against a scarcity of information in response to such dilemmas from modern Muslim thinkers. They were obsessed with the realpolitik (everything was power, authority, and control) through the medium of legal operations. I feel little hope for the future of Islam or the planet when only articulated in terms of Muslims gaining more global control, instead of the dominating U.S superpower and her western allies. Fantastic as it really is. I think such an outcome would still leave a gaping spiritual void.

I have little confidence that Muslims gaining more political power to control the world would really make a better life for all the oppressed and exploited people of the world. I see very little from our current political leaders that would give me such confidence. What little I do see is marginalized by those who are wielding the greatest power.

One reason for my lack of confidence is simply that the agendas expressed by Muslim political and intellectual elites are primarily top-down operations. They seem more focused on the role of legalized authority to assert unilateral power and control over the will and status of the people at the bottom. This removal from the masses, in all their diversity, speaks little towards my hope of the common human well-being.

At the level of a mass movement, we surely need new voices and new agendas. When re-reading the inspirational words of past Muslim mystics, I encountered beautiful discourses on the qualities of spiritual realization. Sadly, I found little or no social reality expressed as a component of that realization. Does this mean that a spiritually qualitative life is unconnected to social realities? It cannot be that one is meant to feel connected to the Creator with no creature-to-creature interaction in activating that connectivity."

 

These journal notes were written almost 20 years ago. I am struck by their simplicity and by my naïveté of believing in such a possibility. I guess I was just inspired by my own vision of "Islam." Activating the spiritual core at the level of policy and social affairs seems more elusive today than at the time of that writing.

As time passes and I continue to transition within Islam; away from historical and cultural patterns of (just) Muslims and towards a more pluralistic perspective of Islam, focused on the human relationship with the sacred ultimate principles. It may seem a kind of humanism— but if so it is filtered through the stark reality of being a Muslim female.

And yet still, within Islamic intellectual developments gender discourse remains marginalized, if not completely excluded. This is so not only from the perspective of gender as a fundamental aspect in categories of thought, but also in terms of the powerful example of caring work still attributed primarily to the woman. She works not only for the sake of self and others, but also as an example of humanity in agency with the Ultimate: applying the divine principles. I am still hopeful that our examples, as women, will represent the ways for achieving a world order removed from the entrenched patterns and diverse forms of patriarchy.

I am reminded of the hadith by the Prophet Muhammad. Indeed your Lord has certain rights over you, and your ahl (family/community) has certain rights over you and your nafs (soul, self, person) has certain rights over you. So give each, the rights that they are due." I look at this also as a triad. The way to fulfill our rights to our Lord, Allah, is to balance the way we complete the fulfillment of rights to our own selves, and to the living communities of humankind.

Ahl means family, and is used for the human family or for larger communities in many places in the Qur'an, and not just for ones blood family. Women are often socialized to defer their own rights in service to others, their immediate family especially. It is almost as if what it means to be a woman, a mother, etc., is to be in service of the needs of others. This service to or care for others is a good thing. So good in fact, everyone should be rushing to do it, not just women.

Likewise, caring for oneself has to be put in perspective to the whole. We do a disservice to our Lord and to humankind when we leave ourselves out of the formula of care. I spent a lot of time in the past five years reading about the crisis in care work. In this ethical formula, unless the human inhabitants of the planet make a new assessment of what it means to be human, and what it is to act humanely namely to address the matter of care, we will self destruct. Care work can be done for free, out of love and concern or it can be done for money. It is not enough that the very wealthy have better access to care because they can pay for it.

The active Islamic principle is the one where others can live in a life of such quality as we want for ourselves. That is the golden rule and I am still waiting for it to be the rule we live by instead of living by some one's rule(s).

 

Aqeedah at Tawheed -The Concept Of God In Islam: Part 8

Posted by iloveAllaah.com Team • August 24, 2010 • Printer-friendly

By what name do we call God?

The Muslims prefer calling the Supreme Creator, Allah, instead of by the English word 'God'. The Arabic word, 'Allah', is pure and unique, unlike the English word 'God', which can be played around with.

If you add 's' to the word God, it becomes 'Gods', that is the plural of God. Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add 'dess' to the word God, it becomes 'Goddess' that is a female God. There is nothing like male Allah or female Allah. Allah has no gender. If you add the word 'father' to 'God' it becomes 'God-father'. God-father means someone who is a guardian. There is no word like 'Allah-Abba' or 'Allah-father'. If you add the word 'mother' to 'God', it becomes 'God-mother'. There is nothing like 'Allah-Ammi', or 'Allah-mother' in Islam. Allah is a unique word. If you prefix tin before the word God, it becomes tin-God i.e., fake God. Allah is a unique word, which does not conjure up any mental picture nor can it be played around with. Therefore the Muslims prefer using the Arabic word 'Allah' for the Almighty.

Unity of God.

Some polytheists argue by saying that the existence of more than one God is not illogical. Let us point out to them that if there were more than one God, they would dispute with one another, each god trying to fulfill his will against the will of the other gods. This can be seen in the mythology of the polytheistic and pantheistic religions. If a 'God' is defeated or unable to defeat the others, he is surely not the one true God. Also popular among polytheistic religions is the idea of many Gods, each having different responsibilities. Each one would be responsible for a part of man's existence e.g. a Sun-God, a Rain-God, etc. This indicates that one 'God' is incompetent of certain acts and moreover he is also ignorant of the other Gods' powers, duties, functions and responsibilities. There cannot be an ignorant and incapable God. If there were more than one God it would surely lead to confusion, disorder, chaos and destruction in the universe. But the universe is in complete harmony. The Glorious Qur'an says:

"If there were, in the heavens
And the earth, other gods Besides Allah, there would
Have been confusion in both!
But glory to Allah,
The Lord of the Throne:
(High is He) above
What they attribute to Him!"
[Al-Qur'an 21:22]

If there were more than one God, they would have taken away what they created. The Qur'an says:

"No son did Allah beget,
Nor is there any god
Along with Him: (if there were
Many gods), behold, each god
Would have taken away
What he had created,
And some would have
Lorded it over others!
Glory to Allah! (He is free)
From the (sort of) things
They attribute to Him!"
[Al-Qur'an 23:91]

Thus the existence of one True, Unique, Supreme, Almighty God, is the only logical concept of God.

TAWHEED

Definition and Categories:

Islam believes in 'Tawheed' which is not merely monotheism i.e. belief in one God, but much more. Tawheed literally means 'unification' i.e. 'asserting oneness' and is derived from the Arabic verb 'Wahhada' which means to unite, unify or consolidate. Tawheed can be divided into three categories.

1. Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah
2. Tawheed al-Asmaa-was-Sifaat
3. Tawheed al-Ibaadah.

A. Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (maintaining the unity of Lordship)
The first category is 'Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah'. 'Ruboobeeyah' is derived from the root verb "Rabb" meaning Lord, Sustainer and Cherisher.
Therefore 'Tawheed-ar-Ruboobeeyah' means maintaining the unity of Lordship. This category is based on the fundamental concept that Allah (swt) alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing. He created or originated all that exists out of nothing. He alone is the sole Creator, Cherisher, and Sustainer of the complete universe and all between it, without any need from it or for it. B. Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (maintaining the unity of Allah's name and attributes):

The second category is 'Tawheed al Asmaa was Sifaat' which means maintaining the unity of Allah's name and attributes. This category is divided into five aspects: (i) Allah should be referred to as described by Him and His Prophet
Allah must be referred to according to the manner in which He and His prophet have described Him without explaining His names and attributes by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings. (ii) Allah must be referred to as He has referred to Himself
Allah must be referred to without giving Him any new names or attributes. For example Allah may not be given the name Al-Ghaadib (the Angry One), despite the fact that He has said that He gets angry, because neither Allah nor His messenger have used this name. (iii) Allah is referred to without giving Him the attributes of His creation

In a reference to God, we should strictly abstain from giving Him the attributes of those whom He has created. For instance in the Bible, God is portrayed as repenting for His bad thoughts in the same way as humans do when they realise their errors. This is completely against the principle of Tawheed. God does not commit any mistakes or errors and therefore never needs to repent.

The key principle when dealing with Allah's attributes is given in the Qur'an in Surah Ash-Shura:

"There is nothing
Whatever like unto Him,
And He is the One
That hears and sees (all things)."
[Al-Qur'an 42:11]

Hearing and seeing are human faculties. However, when attributed to the Divine Being they are without comparison, in their perfection, unlike when associated with humans who require ears, eyes, etc. and who are limited in their sight and hearing in terms of space, time, capacity, etc. (iv) God's creation should not be given any of His attributes
To refer to a human with the attribute of God is also against the principle of Tawheed. For example, referring to a person as one who has no beginning or end (eternal). (v) Allah's name cannot be given to His creatures
Some Divine names in the indefinite form, like 'Raoof' or 'Raheem' are permissible names for men as Allah has used them for Prophets; but 'Ar-Raoof' (the Most Pious) and Ar-Raheem (the most Merciful) can only be used if prefixed by 'Abd' meaning 'slave of' or 'servant of' i.e. 'Abdur-Raoof' or 'Abdur-Raheem'. Similarly 'Abdur-Rasool' (slave of the Messenger) or 'Abdun-Nabee' (slave of the Prophet) are forbidden.

C. Tawheed al-Ibaadah (maintaining the unity of worship):

(i) Definition and meaning of 'Ibadaah':
'Tawheed al-Ibaadah' means maintaining the unity of worship or 'Ibaadah'. Ibaadah is derived from Arabic word 'Abd' meaning slave or servant. Thus Ibaadah means servitude and worship. (ii) All three categories to be followed simultaneously.
Only believing in the first two categories of Tawheed without implementing Tawheed-al-Ibaadah is useless. The Qur'an gives the examples of 'Mushrikeens' (idolaters) of the Prophet's time who confirmed the first two aspects of Tawheed. It is mentioned in the Qur'an:

"Say: 'Who is it that
Sustains you (in life)
From the sky and from the earth?
Or who is it that
Has power over hearing
And sight? And who
Is it that brings out
The living from the dead
And the dead from the living?
And who is it that
Rules and regulates all affairs?'
They will soon say, 'Allah'.
Say, 'Will you not then
Show piety (to Him)?' "
[Al-Qur'an 10:31]

A similar example is repeated in Surah Zukhruf of the Glorious Qur'an:

"If thou ask them, Who
Created them, they will
Certainly say, 'Allah': how
Then are they deluded
Away (from the Truth)?"
[Al-Qur'an 43:87]

The pagan Meccans knew that Allah (swt) was their Creator, Sustainer, Lord and Master. Yet they were not Muslims because they also worshipped other gods besides Allah. Allah (swt) categorised them as 'Kuffaar' (disbelievers) and 'Mushrikeen' (idol worshippers and those who associate partners with God).

"And most of them
Believe not in Allah
Without associating (others
As partners) with Him!"
[Al-Qur'an 12:106]

Thus 'Tawheed al-Ibaadah' i.e. maintaining the unity of worship is the most important aspect of Tawheed. Allah (swt) alone deserves worship and He alone can grant benefit to man for his worship.

SHIRK

A. Definition:The omission of any of the above mentioned categories of tawheed or deficiency in the fulfillment of any criteria of Tawheed is referred to as 'shirk'.(Please note that the Arabic word 'Shirk' has the same sound as in the English word 'ship' and not as in the English word 'shirk',which means 'to evade'

'Shirk' literally means sharing or associating partners. In Islamic terms it means associating partners with Allah and is equivalent to idolatry. B. Shirk is the greatest sin that Allah will never forgive:

The Qur'an describes the greatest sin in Surah Al-Nisa':

"Allah forgives not
That partners should be set up
With Him; but He forgives
Anything else, to whom
He pleases; to set up
Partners with Allah
Is to devise a sin
Most heinous indeed."
[Al-Qur'an 4:48]

The same message is repeated in Surah Al-Nisa':

"Allah forgives not
(The sin of) joining other gods
With Him; but He forgives
Whom He pleases other sins
Than this: one who joins
Other gods with Allah,
Has strayed far, far away
(From the Right)."
[Al-Qur'an 4:116]

C. Shirk leads to hell fire:

The Qur'an says in Surah Ma'idah:

"They do blaspheme who say:
'Allah is Christ the son
Of Mary.' But said Christ:
'O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord
And your Lord'. Whoever joins other gods with Allah –
Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire
Will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers
Be no one to help."
[Al-Qur'an 5:72]

D. Worship and Obedience to none but Allah:

The Qur'an mentions in Surah Ali-'Imran:

Say: "O people of the Book!
Come To common terms
As between us and you:
That we worship none but Allah;
That we associate no partners with Him;
That we erect not, from among ourselves,
Lords and patrons other than Allah."
If then they turn back,
Say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will)."
[Al-Qur'an 3:64]

The Glorious Qur'an says:

"And if all the trees on earth were pens
And the Ocean (were ink), with seven Oceans behind it
To add to its (supply), yet would not the Words
Of Allah be exhausted (In the writing): for Allah
Is Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom."
[Al-Qur'an 31:27]

Our analysis of Concept of God in various Religion shows that monotheism is an integral part of every major religion of the world. However, it is unfortunate that some adherents of these religions violate the teachings of their own scriptures and have set up partners to Almighty God.

An analysis of the scriptures of various religions, reveals that all scriptures exhort mankind to believe in, and submit to One God. All these scriptures condemn the association of partners to God, or the worship of God in the form of images. The Glorious Qur'an says:

"O men! Here is
A parable set forth!
Listen to it! Those
On whom, besides Allah,
You call, cannot create
(Even) a fly, if they all
Met together for the purpose!
And if the fly should snatch
Away anything from them,
They would have no power
To release it from the fly.
Feeble are those who petition
And those whom they petition!"
[Al-Qur'an 22:73]

The basis of religion is the acceptance of Divine guidance. A rejection of this guidance has serious implications for society. While we have made great strides in science and technology, true peace still eludes us. All 'isms' have failed to provide the much vaunted deliverance.

The scriptures of all major religions exhort mankind to follow that which is good and eschew that which is evil. All scriptures remind mankind that good will not go unrewarded and evil will not go unpunished!

The question we need to address is, which of these scriptures provides us with the correct 'instruction manual' that we need to regulate our individual and collective lives?

I hope and pray that Allah guides all of us towards the Truth (Aameen).

URL: http://blog.iloveallaah.com/2010/08/aqeedah-at-tawheed-the-concept-of-god-in-islam-part-8/

--
Asadullah Syed

Frequently Asked Question about Islam

Posted by iloveAllaah.com Team • June 14, 2010 • Printer-friendly

What is Islam?

The word "Islam" is an Arabic word that means "submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God" . The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means peace. Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islaam was both revealed by God and carries a deep spritual meaning - only by submitting one's will to Almighty God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter. Islaam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message - which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islaam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

Who are Muslims?


The Arabic word "Muslim" literally means "someone who submits to the will of God" . The message of Islaam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islaam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80% of the world's Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia - it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities. From the very beginning, Islaam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Almighty God. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past, even though you don't see it as much today, the word "Mohammedans" was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either wilful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.



Who is Allaah?


Very often one will here the Arabic word "Allaah" being used in regards to Islaam. The word "Allaah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word "Allaah" being use where the word "God" is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, "Allaah", is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages - for example, the Hebrew word for God is "Elah". For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than the God of Moses and Abraham and Jesus. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islaam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets.

Can we see Allaah?


Allaah is not like the sun. Anyone can see the sun. Moreover, Allaah is the Most Beautiful. Nothing is as beautiful as Allaah. Actually looking at Allaah is the greatest pleasure of the people of Paradise. This pleasure is not granted by Allaah to anyone but the believers. So no one will see Allaah before he dies.



Does Allaah see us?

Allaah sees us and knows everything about us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. There is not a leaf on a tree that blows away, or stays in its place except that He knows it. There is not a dry spot or wet spot, nor a grain in the depths of the earth except that Allaah knows it.



Where is Allaah?


Allaah is the Highest. He is High above all of His creation. He ascended above His Throne, which is immeasurably greater than the Heavens and the Earth. So much greater, that the Heavens and the Earth could fit in the footstool of the Throne, and they would be like a ring thrown into an open desert. Allaah is certainly the Greatest.



Does Allaah look like us?


No. Allaah is Perfect. He is not like any of His creation. He has told us that He has Hands, Eyes, and Face. However, all of these attributes are befitting to His Might and Glory. A Muslim does not say a single thing about Allaah, other than what Allaah says about Himself. Allaah is Perfect and Unique.



Is Allah the same as what Christians call the father?


Allah is the creator who Jesus worshipped. He is the Creator who spoke to Moses, and split the sea for Moses, and his followers. That is Allah. But Allah tells us: "Say Allah is one, He is Perfect, He has never begotten, nor was He begott, and there is no one equal to Him".



What does it mean to believe in Allaah?


It means:

• To believe in Allaah's total Perfection and Uniqueness.
• To believe in the Angels. We must love them all in the same way, we cannot hate an Angel; for example, it is forbidden to hate Michael who is given the charge of Rain and the vegetation of the Earth or Gabriel, who is entrusted with Revelation (i.e. he brings down the Scriptures to the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention).
• To believe in Allaah's books revealed to His Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, taking into consideration that all of these books have either disappeared or changed, except the last divine book, the Quran.
• To believe in His Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, because they are His Messengers and He sent them. We cannot pick and choose, a Muslim must believe in all the Prophets of Allaah, may Allaah exalt their mention.
• To believe in the Last Day: The Day of Judgment.
• To believe in Allaah's predestination of good and bad (we might consider something bad from our perspective), but to Allaah everything He does is good).

Who is Muhammad?


The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad explained, interpreted and lived the teachings of Islaam. The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God. Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of God, "God Incarnate" or the "Son of God". All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasised that he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as "the Messenger of God and His Slave". To Muslims, Muhammad is the supreme example for all people - he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history. Muslims don't need to have "faith" that he existed and that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad that he had be sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God's messages, God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad. This was because Almighty God promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of God's messengers have preached the message of Islaam - i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone - Muhammad is actually the last prophet of Islaam, not the first.



Do Muslims worship Muhammad ( sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)?


No. Muslims do not worship Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam or any other prophet(s), may Allaah exalt their mention. Muslims believe in all prophets including Aadam (Adam), Nooh (Noah), Ibraaheem (Abraham), Daawood (David), Sulaymaan (Solomon), Moosaa (Moses) and 'Eesaa (Jesus), may Allaah exalt their mention. Muslims believe that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the last of the prophets. They believe that God Alone is to be worshipped, not human beings or idols etc.



What do Muslims think of Jesus ?


Muslims think highly of Jesus and his worthy mother, Mary. The Qur'an tells us that Jesus was born of a miraculous birth without a father. He was given many miracles as a prophet. These include speaking soon after his birth in defense of his mother's piety. God's other gifts to him included healing the blind and the sick, reviving the dead, making a live bird out of clay and, most importantly, the Divine message he was carrying. These miracles were given to him by God to establish him as a prophet. According to the Quran, he was not crucified but was raised into Heaven (which means):

"And [for] their saying: "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain Rather, Allaah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allaah Exalted in Might and Wise. " [Quran 4: 157-158]



Is there a Trinity in Islam?



No. Allaah is Perfect. The Quran Says (what means): "Allaah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of (all) existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth…"[Quran 2:255] Can Jesus, or Mohammed peace be upon them be worshipped?
No, Allah does not accept that a cow, a person, an angel, a prophet, a stone, or anything be worshipped in place of him, or even along with Him. Worship must be to Allah the creator of them.



Did Allah create Evil?



Yes, Allah created the good, and the bad. Whatever bad happens to us is due to our sins. We sin and Allah pardons much of what we do; however, when something bad happens to us it is our fault, and we are to blame. Bad things that happen to a person are a chance for that person to reflect, and ask: "Why is this happening to me?" A chance for a person to return from his sin, and obey, and worship Allah.

What are the Teachings of Islaam?



The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in the Unity of God. This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him. Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing that there is "One God" - as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim belief in "One God" and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islaam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as "Lord" and "Saviour" for anyone besides Almighty God. Islaam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.
The essence of falsehood is the claim that God cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasising the burden of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the Mercy of God. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach God directly, people can be mislead into turning to false gods for help. These "false gods" can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the "Son of God" or "God Incarnate". In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god don't consider it to be, or call it, a "god". They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islaam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity - anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and beyond comprehension - He has no "Son", partners or associates. According to Muslim belief, Almighty God "does not beget nor was He begotten" - neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically - He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Unity of God is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that effects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islaamic belief in the Oneness of God, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.



What is the Qur'aan?


It is the final revelation of the will of Almighty God's to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to the Prophet Muhammad in its sounds, words and meanings. The Qur'aan, sometimes spelled Koran, was relayed to the Prophet's companions, which they memorised verbatim, and which has been publicly and continually recited by them and their successors until the present day. In short, the Qur'aan is the book of guidance from God par excellence. The Qur'aan is still memorised and taught by millions of people. The language of the Qur'aan, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people, so unlike the scriptures of other religions, the Qur'aan is still read in its original language by countless millions of people. The Qu'ran is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. God's final revelation to mankind, the Qur'aan, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur'aan, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn't something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qu'ran was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Qur'aan was also completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorised the entire Qur'aan word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur'aan was always in the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God's word and, due to wide-spread memorisation, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Qur'aan - it is a universal scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's revelation in the Qur'aan focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'aan contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness", the Qur'aanic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.



How Do Muslims View the Nature of Man, the Purpose of Life and the Life Hereafter?



In the Holy Qur'aan, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islaamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islaam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islaam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islaam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islaam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islaamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islaam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance of always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islaamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islaam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur'aan, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgement. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islaam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.



Do Non-Muslims go to Heaven?


Allaah only accepts Islam because it is Allaah's true religion given to all His Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention. He Says in the Quran (what means): "Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted of him, and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter".

[Quran 3:85]



What about someone who has never heard of Islam?


Allaah is the Most Just, there is no one more Merciful than Allaah. Allaah said in the Quran (what means): "Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger." [Quran 17: 15]

Thus, if a person had never heard about Islam and was never warned clearly, Allaah would have a special test in the Hereafter for that person, equal to the chance that person would have had on earth.



What can I ask of Allah?

Any thing but don't ask Him to do things like make you a prophet. Cause He has already said that there will be no more prophets.
You can ask Allah for guidance. Meaning you can ask Him to show you the correct religion.



Who are my best friends?


Your best friends are the ones that care where you go after you are dead. This is like the prophets. They cared that we go to heaven, even if it meant some hardship on earth.



Who is my worst enemy?

That would be the devils, whether they are human devils (evil people), or Jinn devils (like Iblis) The Arabic word for a devil is Shaytan (similar to Satan). Satan wants us all to go to hell. He wants us to be bad on earth, even if we get rich, or do lots of wrong things that we appear to enjoy, he does not mind that. But he wants to make sure we don't go to heaven.

How do we know Islam is the truth?



Islam is the only religion that:

• Holds Allaah as One, Unique and Perfect.
• Only Allaah is considered worthy of worship, not 'Eesaa (Jesus) nor an idol, or an angel.
• The Quran does not contain contradictions.
• The Quran contains scientific facts, which are 1400 years ahead of their time. Even though it was revealed 1400 years ago, the Quran contains scientific facts which are only being discovered now. Scientific facts coincide with the Quran perfectly, and are not at variance with it.
• Allaah challenges the world to produce the like of the Quran, while confirming that they will never be able to do so.
• Prophet Muhammad , was considered the most influential man in History. A non-Muslim wrote a book called "The 100" about the most influential men in history, and Prophet Muhammad , was ranked first. Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus) was placed third. Note that even Prophet 'Eesaa (Jesus) was a prophet sent by Allaah. Would Allaah allow a false prophet to be so successful? No. Even the Bible says this in Deuteronomy 18:19: "A false prophet must die." Yet, Prophet Muhammad , did not die until he had completely conveyed his Message and taught Allaah's religion.
• Prophet Muhammad , had predicted many future events, and all of his prophecies have come true or are still coming true.
• Most importantly: Allaah created humankind and we know that we should only worship Him. This is an instinct that is ingrained in all human beings. Allaah did not just leave us to our own resources, rather He sent Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, in all ages and for all nations.. These Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, were granted miracles as proof. The miracle for today's age is the Quran. In this age there is no religion, except Islam, that worships only Allaah and believes in Him as being totally Perfect, and believes in all of His Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and all the Scriptures.

Can anyone become a Muslim? Yes, anyone can. There are two declarations, which are necessary:

• To bear witness that no one deserves to be worshiped except Allaah.
• To bear witness that Prophet Muhammad , is the Messenger of Allaah.
  This is the declaration of faith which makes a person Muslim, however, this should be said in Arabic.

After this, what's next? After a person becomes a Muslim he/she is taught about Prayers, Fasting, the Poor due, Pilgrimage. These are the pillars of Islam. Then what? Muslims are brothers. A Muslim should love for his brother what he loves for himself. Allaah's wealth does not run out and Allaah can provide for us all. We pray for each other and love each other, and love for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves.

--
Asadullah Syed