...ISLAMIC SHIELD...

Why does Islam allow four wives?

2008-01-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

Why does Islam allow a man to marry up to four wives!!!

1. Definition of Polygamy
Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islaam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited.
Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife?

2. The Qur'ân is the only religious scripture in the world that says, "marry only one".

The Qur'ân is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.

In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (960 C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

3. Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims

The report of the ‘Committee of The Status of Woman in Islam’, published in 1975 mentions on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal, Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there was no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and not the Hindu scriptures.

Let us now analyse why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife.

4. Qur'ân permits limited polygyny

As I mentioned earlier, Qur'ân is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says ‘marry only one’. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur’an:
"Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Al-Qur'ân 4:3]

Before the Qur'ân was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says: "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women...." [Al-Qur'ân 4:129]

Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife.
Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts:
(i) ‘Fard’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

(ii) ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged

(iii) ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed

(iv) ‘Makruh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged

(v) ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

5. Average life span of females is more than that of males
By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the paediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers.

6. India has more male population than female due to female foeticide and infanticide

India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries, in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason lies in the high rate of female infanticide in India, and the fact that more than one million female foetuses are aborted every year in this country, after they are identified as females. If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as compared to males.

7. World female population is more than male population

In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain has four million more females as compared to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males.

8. Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical

Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. There is no other option. All those who are modest will opt for the first.

In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life.

Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to marry a married man or to become public property. Islam prefers giving women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second.

Polygamy solves the problem of adultery among men, who by nature are polygamous, or are not happy with their wives, It prevents the prevalence of AIDS and other similar diseases arising from illicit sexual relations among people of loose morals.

It minimizes divorce as men are given the option to marry other women of their choice without divorcing their present wives. This subsequently, prevents the occurrence of juvenile delinquencies among children of broken families.

Furthermore, polygamy gives the opportunity for more unmarried women to be married, considering the fact that women exceed men in number. This in turn eliminates fornication and prostitution, thus greatly reducing the number of children born out of wedlock. Unfortunately, children born out of wedlock are being ostracized in the same way as their mothers are being look down by the society. In polygamy, children are recognized as legal offspring of their fathers just as their mothers are respected as legally married women.

There are several other reasons, why Islaam has permitted limited polygyny, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women.

What is Jihad?

2008-01-10T22:23:00.001-08:00

First, we would like to state that Islam does not call for violence; rather it abhors all forms of violence and terrorism, whether against Muslims or non-Muslims. Islam, moreover, calls for peace, cooperation, and maintaining justice, and provides for the happiness and welfare of humanity as a whole. This fact is declared in the Qur'an when Allah says: "Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." (An-Nahl: 90)

Islam makes it obligatory upon Muslims to stand by the oppressed regardless of their race, color, religion or affiliation and say NO to the oppressor and ask him to respond to the voice of reason and justice.

Jihad is not restricted to fighting aggressive forces. Rather, there are various kinds that most of people are not aware of. For example, striving against the evil desires of the soul is a kind of jihad that every Muslim should carry out.

For more elaboration on the point, we cite the following fatwa issued by Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Islamic lecturer and author:

“First, jihad is of various kinds, some of which are obligatory upon everyone who is accountable, and some are obligatory upon the community as a whole, i.e., if some people undertake them then the rest are relieved of the obligation. And some kinds of jihad are mustahabb (recommended).

Jihad an-nafs (jihad against one’s self) and jihad ash-Shaytan (jihad against Satan) are obligatory upon everyone who is accountable. Jihad against the munafiqin (hypocrites), kuffar (disbelievers) and leaders of oppression and innovation is obligatory upon the community as a whole. Physical jihad (i.e., fighting) against the kuffar may become an individual obligation upon everyone who is able to do it in certain circumstances, which will be described below.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Once this is understood, then jihad is of four kinds: jihad an-nafs (jihad against one’s self), jihad ash-Shaytan (jihad against Satan), jihad against the kuffar and jihad against the hypocrites.

1. Jihad an-nafs (jihad against one’s self) is of four kinds:

a. Striving to learn the teachings of Islam without which one cannot attain success and happiness in this world or in the Hereafter. If this is missing, then one is doomed to misery in this world and in the Hereafter.

b. Striving to make oneself act in accordance with what one has learned. Simply knowing without acting, even though it may not cause any harm, is not going to bring any benefit.

c. Striving to call others to Islam, teaching those who do not know about it. Otherwise one will be one of those who conceal the guidance and teaching that Allah has revealed, and it will not benefit him or save him from the punishment of Allah.

d. Striving to bear patiently the difficulties involved in calling people to Allah and the insults of people, bearing all that for the sake of Allah.

If a person achieves all these four levels, then he will be one of the rabbaniyyin (learned men of religion who practice what they know and also preach to others. [see Al `Imran: 79]). The salaf (righteous predecesors) were agreed that the scholar does not deserve to be called a rabbani unless he knows the truth, acts in accordance with it, and teaches it to others. Whoever teaches, acts in accordance with his knowledge, and has knowledge will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

2.Jihad ash-Shaytan (jihad against Satan) is of two types:

a. Warding off the doubts that Satan stirs up to undermine faith.

b. Striving against Satan to ward off the corrupt desires that he provokes.

The first jihad is followed by certainty of faith, and the second is followed by patience. Allah says: “And We made from among them [Children of Israel], leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)” (As-Sajdah: 24)

Allah tells us that leadership in religion is attained through patience and certainty of faith. Patience wards off desires and certainty wards off doubts.

3. Jihad against the munafiqin (hypocrites) and kuffar (disbelievers) is of four kinds: with the heart, the tongue, one’s wealth and oneself. Jihad against the disbelievers is more along the lines of physical fighting, whereas jihad against the hypocrites is more along the lines of using words and ideas.

4. Jihad against the leaders of oppression and innovation is of three kinds: jihad with one's hand (i.e., physical jihad, fighting) if one is able. If that is not possible, then it should be with one's tongue (i.e., by speaking out). If that is not possible, then it should be with one's heart (i.e., by hating the evil and feeling that it is wrong).

These are the thirteen types of jihad, and “Whoever dies without having fought or having resolved to fight has died following one of the branches of hypocrisy.” (Reported by Muslim). (Zad al-Ma`ad, 3/9-11)

Sheikh `Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Jihad is of various kinds, with one’s self, one's wealth, by making du`a’, by teaching and guiding, by helping to do good in any way. The greatest form of jihad is jihad with one’s self (i.e., going oneself and fighting), followed by jihad with one's wealth, jihad by speaking out and guiding others. Da`wah is also part of jihad. But going out oneself to fight in jihad is the highest form. (Fatawa ash-Sheikh Ibn Baz, 7/334, 335)

Second, the idea of waging physical jihad against the disbelievers went through a number of stages, depending on the state in which the Muslim Ummah was. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

The first thing which his Lord revealed to him [Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)] was to read in the name of his Lord Who had created. That was the beginning of his Prophethood, when Allah commanded him to recite to himself but He did not yet command him to convey that. Then He revealed the words:

‘O you (Muhammad) enveloped in garments! Arise and warn!’ (Al-Muddaththir: 1-2)

So he became a Prophet with the word ‘Iqra’ (Read!) and he became a Messenger with the words, ‘O you (Muhammad) enveloped in garments…’ Then Allah commanded him to warn his closest kinsmen, then to warn his people, then to warn the Arabs around them, then to warn all the Arabs, then to warn all of mankind. He continued to call them for over ten years from the beginning of his Prophethood, without fighting or imposing the jizyah; he was commanded to refrain, to be patient and to be forbearing.

Then permission was given to him to migrate, and permission was given to him to fight.

Then he was commanded to fight those who fought him, and to refrain from fighting those who left him alone and did not fight him.

Then Allah commanded him to fight the disbelievers so that the religion would all be for Allah.

After jihad was enjoined upon him, the disbelievers then fell into three categories: those with whom there was a truce or peace treaty; those with whom he was at war; and those who lived under the rule and protection of the Islamic state. (Zad al-Ma`ad, 3/159)

Third The ruling on physical jihad against the disbelievers is that this is an obligation on the community as a whole (fard kafayah).

Ibn Qudamah said: “Jihad is an obligation upon the community; if some people undertake it, the rest are relieved of the obligation.”

What fard kafayah means is that if it is not undertaken by enough people, then all the people are guilty of sin, but if enough people undertake it, the rest will be relieved of blame. Initially the command is addressed to all of them, as in the case of an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn), but then in the case of fard kafayah the obligation is dropped if enough of the people undertake to do it, unlike the case with fard ‘ayn where the obligation is not dropped if someone else does it. Jihad is a fard kafayah according to the majority of scholars.” (Al-Mughni, 9/163)

Sheikh ‘Abd al-`Aziz ibn Baz said: “We have previously explained on more than one occasion that jihad is fard kafayah, not fard ‘ayn. All Muslims are enjoined to support their brothers with their selves (i.e., physically, by joining them), or with money, weapons, da`wah and advice. If enough of them go out (to fight), the rest are freed from sin; but if none of them do that, then all of them are sinners.

The Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Africa, North Africa and elsewhere are obliged to do their utmost, and if there is a Jihad in one country, the surrounding countries should hasten to help them, the closest then the next closest. If one or two states, or three or more, manage to fulfill the obligation, then the rest are freed of responsibility. They deserve to be supported, and it is obligatory to help them against their enemies because they are oppressed. Allah has enjoined jihad upon all Muslims, and they must fight against the enemies of Allah until their brothers are victorious. If they fail to do that, then they are sinners; but if sufficient people undertake to do that, then the rest are absolved of sin.” (Fatawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz, 7/335)

Fourth: Physical jihad against the disbelievers becomes obligatory in four cases, which are:

1. When the Muslim is present in a jihad situation.

2. When the enemy has come and attacked a Muslim land

3. When the ruler mobilizes the people, they must respond.

4. When a person is needed and no one else can do the task except him.

Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymin said:

Jihad is obligatory and becomes fard `ayn if a person is present where fighting is going on. This is the first of the situations in which jihad becomes an individual obligation, because Allah says: “O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battlefield, never turn your backs to them. And whoever turns his back to them on such a day — unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own), — he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!” (Al-Anfal: 16)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that running away on the day when the army is advancing is one of the sins that doom a person to Hell. He said: “Avoid the seven sins that doom a person to Hell…” among which he mentioned running away on the day when the army is advancing. But Allah has made exceptions in two cases:

1. When it is a military maneuver, in the sense that he is leaving to bring reinforcements.

2. When he is going to join another group, when he has been told that there is a group of Muslims elsewhere who are about to be defeated, so he goes to join them in order to strengthen their numbers. This is subject to the condition that there is no risk to the group he is in; if there is a risk to the group that he is in, then it is not permissible for him to go to the other group. In this case (jihad) is an individual obligation upon him (fard `ayn) and it is not permissible for him to leave.

The second situation (in which jihad becomes an individual obligation) is when a city is besieged by the enemy. Then he has to fight to defend the city because there is no alternative but to defend it. For if the enemy is going to prevent people from leaving the city or entering it, and prevent provisions from reaching it, and other things which are well known, then in this case the people of the city are obliged to fight in order to defend their city.

The third situation is when the leader tells the people to mobilize. The Muslim ruler is the highest authority in the state, but he need not necessarily be the leader of all the Muslims, because there has been no leader of all the Muslims (caliph or khalifah) for a long time. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Listen and obey, even if you are ruled by an Abyssinian slave.” So if a man becomes a leader, then his word is to be heeded and his commands are to obeyed. (Ash-Sharh al-Mumti`, 8/10-12).”

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: www.islam-qa.com

Misquoted "Violent Verses"

2008-01-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

It is amazing to see how many non-muslims would blindly post the verses from Quran, without even reading from ‘appropriate’ and well-know translations. Needless to say they hardly ever know the context. In this article we will be examining commonly quoted verses on the topic of violence and refuting them. This article is divided in 2 parts:
1) Refuting commonly quoted verses on the topic of violence
2) Providing accurate picture of Islam

1)Refuting commonly quoted verses on the topic of violence

Quran 9:5
Islam-critics only post 9:5:
“Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 9:5)

Let’s read the verse in context 9:1-9:5:
Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty. Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His Guidance). And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve, Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him). Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 9:1-5)

This verses is always quoted out of context, they never post 9:6 or from 9:1 to 9:6. If we read from start it states that there was a treaty, which the Pagans of Arab broke. Thus Allah gave them 4 months as 9:2 states in order to amend the treaty. Verse 9:4 states that the punishment prescribed in 9:5 is ONLY to those who broke the treaty and NOT to those who abided by the treaty. Therefore the context of 9:5 is of war with the pagan Arabs who broke the treaty yet refused to amend it in 4 months.

Naturally, in war violence is expected. If a war is declared between Country A and Country B, because country B broke the treaty and refused to amend, then if president of country A states “wherever you find soldiers of Country B, you kill them and besiege them”, no one would truly find much wrong in that statement.

Killing in war is nothing peculiar, and there is yet to be a war where soldiers hugged and kissed each other. In additions, Dr. Zakir Naik writes in his book “Replies to the most common questions asked by non-muslims“:

“4. Verse 9:5 quoted to boost morale of Muslims during battle
Similarly in Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 the Qur’an says, “Kill the Mushriqs [pagans] where ever you find them”, during a battle to boost the morale of the Muslim soldiers. What the Qur’an is telling Muslim soldiers is, don’t be afraid during battle; wherever you find the enemies kill them.”

Islam-critics remain shy of posting the next verse, 9:6, as it contains the answer to their deception:

“And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 9:6)

Quran does not only say that you release those who seek protection but it goes even further and states to protect them! In the present international scenario, even a kind, peace-loving army General, during a battle, may let the enemy soldiers go free, if they want peace. But which army General will ever tell his soldiers, that if the enemy soldiers want peace during a battle, don’t just let them go free, but also escort them to a place of security?

Hence even in war Quran promotes peace.

Quran 2:191
Islam-critics usually apply “cut and choose” approach with regards to this verse. They only quote: “And slay them wherever ye catch them…” (2:191). However, let us be brave enough to read the whole passage in context from 2:190-195:

Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for persecution and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear (the punishment of) God, and know that God is with those who restrain themselves. And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good. (YUSUF ALI, Quran 2:190-195)

The verse clearly states to fight those who fight you, yet do not transgress limits. In so sense therefore does it promote killing of innocent but allows self-defence. It further goes on to state “And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice” and “if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression”. Hence, once again when the whole context is examined the verses does not promote killing of innocent in anyway.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi (Finlay, Greece Under the Romans, pp. 367-368) writes on verse 2:190:
“…Violating the truce they themselves had signed. The Muslims, after having borne untold persecution with almost superhuman fortitude for years and years at the hands of the pagans of Makkah, are now for the first time enjoined to take to reprisals. ‘For a full thirteen years the Muslims were subjected to relentless persecution in Mecca. The Prophet and his followers fled for life to Medina, but the enemy would not leave them alone in their refuge. They came to attack them within a year, and the first three battles were fought in the very locality which will whether the Prophet was an assailant or defendant’ (Headley, The Original Church of Jesus Christ and Islam, p. 155). The Makkans had signed a truce and were the first to break it…”

Once again when the whole context is examined the verses does not promote killing of innocents, whether muslims or non-muslims in anyway, but only self-defence.

Quran 4:89
Verse says:
But if they turn away, catch them and slaughter them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.” (4:89)

Once again the context is ignored, they don’t quote previous and next verses.

They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks;- Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: Therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you not, and (instead) send you (Guarantees of) peace, then Allah Hath opened no way for you (to war against them). Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: Every time they are sent back to temptation, they succumb thereto: if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them: In their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 4:89-91)

When we read it in context, verse 4:89 is NOT to those “who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people.” This verse is only referring to those “withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands”.

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi says with regards to this verse:

“Now tell me honestly, do these verses give a free permission to kill any one anywhere? These verses were revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), at the time when Muslims were attacked by the non-Muslims of Makkah on a regular basis. They were frightening the Muslim community of Madinah. One may say using the contemporary jargon that there were constant terrorist attacks on Madinah and in this situation Muslims were given permission to fight back the “terrorist”. These verses are not a permission for “terrorism” but they are a warning against the “terrorists.” But even in these warnings you can see how much restraint and care is emphasized.”

Therefore, it is clear that the verse only allows self-defence against those who “withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands”. Naturally, it would be necessary for the enemies to withdraw and make peace in order to achieve peace. Verse is not referring to “those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people”.

In “…withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands”, it is obviously necessary to give guarantees of peace or form a treaty in addition to stop fighting. Otherwise, anyone can pretend to be “restraining their hands” when they are weak, and when they are strong again they come back and attack again. Thus to make it official Quran says to give you (guarantees) of peace, and not act as two-faced.

Quran 4:95
We have already discussed 4:89, now lets look at 4:95. Common translation amongst the critics of this verse (poorly translated) is:

Qur’an 4:95 Not equal are those believers who sit at home and receive no injurious hurt, and those who strive hard, fighting Jihad in God’s Cause with their wealth and lives. God has granted a rank higher to those who strive hard, fighting Jihad with their wealth and bodies to those who sit (at home). Unto each has God promised good, but He prefers Jihadists who strive hard and fight above those who sit home. He has distinguished his fighters with a huge reward.

Now let’s examine this verse in the light of another common translation:

O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight) in the way of Allah, be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offereth you peace: “Thou art not a believer,” seeking the chance profits of this life (so that ye may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus (as he now is) were ye before; but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you. Therefore take care to discriminate. Allah is ever Informed of what ye do. Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who have a (disabling) hurt, are not on an equality with those who strive in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives. Allah hath conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah hath promised good, but He hath bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary; (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 4:94-95)

The verse is stating those who strive in the path of God with lives and wealth are not equal to those who do not, which is logical. Accurate translations make no mention of “Jihadists” and killing as poor translations indicate. Once again, critics take advantage of inaccurate translations. Also 4:94 prevents killing of innocents as it says “…be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offereth you peace: “Thou art not a believer,” seeking the chance profits of this life…”

Quran 47:4
If read with good translation and historical context in mind, no significant complaint can be found about 47:4. However, some non-muslims insist on using a very poor translation of Quran with additions. One such translation reads:

Qur’an 47:4 So, when you clash with the unbelieving Infidels in battle, smite their necks until you overpower them, killing and wounding many of them. At length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind them firmly, making (them) captives. Thereafter either generosity or ransom until the war lays down its burdens. Thus are you commanded by God to continue carrying out Jihad against the unbelieving infidels until they submit to Islam .

However, almost all of the major translations are contrary to the above translation. Yusuf Ali’s translation reads:

Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been Allah’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost. (Yusuf Ali Translation, Quran 47:4)

Further translations can be checked out here. Nowhere does the accurate translations make any mention of 1)”killing and wounding” 2) “Thus are you commanded by God to continue carrying out Jihad against the unbelieving infidels until they submit to Islam”, those are additions of the translator’s and are not to be found in Quran.

According to Professor Shahul Hameed (http://www.islamonline.net/askaboutislam/display.asp?hquestionID=8922), historical context of this verse is Battle of Badr. He writes:

“The context of this verse was when the Muslims were to fight their enemies for their very existence. After thirteen years of endurance and patience, the prophet and his companions had to leave their home town of Makkah and to emigrate to Madinah. When the people of Madinah had welcomed him there and he was accepted as a leader there, the Makkans became unhappy. They wanted to eliminate Muhammad and his religion; and so they sent their army to root out Islam. And the crucial battle took place in Badr.”

Once again, the context is of war here and therefore killing of innocent people is not prescribed. Naturally, in war people would be expected to fight and kill, therefore “smite at their necks” is only natural.

Quran 33:23
Another poor translation of this verse commonly seen reads:
Qur’an 33:23 Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God and have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting ). Some have completed their vow to extreme and have been martyred fighting and dying in His Cause, and some are waiting, prepared for death in battle.

More accurate and common translation reads:
Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least: (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 33.23)

Critics have included “fighting and dying”, “prepared for death in battle” and their own interpretation to the verse. Ibn Kathir writes:

“When Allah mentions how the hypocrites broke their promise to Him that they would not turn their backs, He describes the believers as firmly adhering to their covenant and their promise:
([they] have been true to their covenant with Allah; of them some have fulfilled their Nahbah;) Some of [the Qur’anic commentators] said: “Met their appointed time (i.e., death).” Al-Bukhari said, “Their covenant, and refers back to the beginning of the Ayah.
(and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least.) means, they have never changed or broken their covenant with Allah. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)”

It is clear, when read in proper translation, that the verse does not promote killing of innocents at all.

Quran 2:217-218
Verse states:
They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: “Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members.” Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein. Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought (and strove and struggled) in the path of Allah,- they have the hope of the Mercy of Allah: And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 2:217-218)

The context of these verses refers to an expedition of a group of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), under the lead of Abdullah bin Jahsh Asadi. The companions recognized a caravan from the Quraysh. Since the Quraysh had openly declared war on the Muslims and had persecuted them to the extent that they drove them out of their homes, and stole their property, the companions present, felt that they could retaliate. They killed one man of from the caravan, and took two as prisoners. When they returned to Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad disapproved of their attack during the Holy Month. But God revealed this verse as a reminder to the Muslims that while killing in the Holy Month was bad, persecution and expelling people from their homes because of their faith is far worse. So the verses make it very clear that in the face of the terrorist attacks of the polytheists, the Muslims should be brave and steadfast and turn to God for help rather than giving in and leaving the truth.

Shaykh Safiur Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri (Al-Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum; Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, Dar-us-Salam Publications, 1996; pp. 205-206)writes on verse 2:217:

The Words of Allah were quite clear and said that the tumult created by the polytheists was groundless. The sacred inviolable sanctities repeatedly violated in the long process of fighting Islam and persecuting its adherents. The wealth of the Muslims as well as their homes had already been violated and their Prophet s.a.w.s. had been the target of repeated attempts on his life…Shortly afterwards, the two captives were released and blood money (compensation) was given to the killed man’s father. (fn. For details see Zad Al-Ma’ad, 2/83-85; Ibn Hisham, 1/605; Rahmat-ul-lil’alameen, 1/115. 2/468.) (Al-Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum; Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, Dar-us-Salam Publications, 1996; pp. 205-206, emphasis added)

Quran 2:244
2:244 Fight in God’s Cause, and know that God hears and knows all. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 2:244)

Verse 2:244 is informing us not to transgress limits and Allah “hears and knows all”, also fight in God’s cause which could be in reference to several things including liberation of the oppressed, meaning the helpless men and women who are yearning and praying for freedom as well as striving for all that which is good as well as doing Dawah in an appropriate manner. This does NOT refer to fighting and killing innocents. As Quran says:

Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 2:190)

Quran 4:76
Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil’s strategy is ever weak. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 4:76)

Now, let’s read the verse in textual context:
Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward. How should ye not fight for the cause of Allah and (for the cause) of the feeble among men and of the women and the children who are crying: Our Lord! Bring us forth from out this town of which the people are oppressors! Oh, give us from thy presence some protecting friend! Oh, give us from Thy presence some defender! Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil’s strategy is ever weak. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 4:74-76)

Verse 4:76 is specific to those who have been oppressed. In order to help those who cannot help themselves is indeed a great deed and to shun away tyranny and help those who are weak and oppressed. Islam-critics seek to present a view of violence and hate on behalf of Quran, however, when the verse is examined carefully in a correct context, their deceit is clearly exposed.

Dr. Maher Hathout (Hathout, Jihad vs. Terrorism; US Multimedia Vera International, 2002, p.50) comments on verse 4:76 by saying:
This verse is related to the two preceding verses (see 4:74-75) where it was stated that those who fight for God’s cause would be rewarded whether they are victorious or slain. Fighting for God’s cause includes the liberation of the oppressed, meaning the helpless men and women who are yearning and praying for freedom. The believers fight for God’s cause, and the disbelievers fight for the sake of their idols. An idol may be taken conceptually. For example, evil or greed may figuratively be construed as idols. The believers should put all their trust in God the Almighty and Powerful and fear not the disbelievers and their evil plans. Evil plans are always inferior to goodness. (Hathout, Jihad vs. Terrorism; US Multimedia Vera International, 2002, p.50)

Quran 5:33
Verse states:
The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 5:33)

The verses before and after 5:33 are not usually quoted, as 5:32 prohibits murder and 5:34 encourages forgiveness.

On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; Except for those who repent before they fall into your power: in that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 5:32-34)

The verse mentions “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land ” is either execution, OR crucifixion, OR the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, OR exile from the land. This is the punishment for waging war against the Prophet of God and spreading corruption. Four kinds of punishment are mentioned based upon the gravity of the crime. As Muhammad F. Malik writes in his translation of this verse:

The punishment for those who wage war against Allah and His Rasool and strive to create mischief in the land is death or crucifixion or the cutting off their hands and feet from opposite sides or exile from the land (based on the gravity of their offence)… (Malik, Al-Qur’an: Guidance for Mankind)

Therefore stealing may not result in execution but cutting of hand. Similarly, killing an innocent person may not result in exile from the land but execution. Verses 5:32 and 5:34 must also be taken in consideration, which condemns killing of innocent and takes into account repentance.

Quran 9:29
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 9:29)

This verse is referring to the Islamic Concept called “Jizya”, which Shaikh Sayed Sabiq in the Fiqh Alsunna (a commonly used source of fiqh[rulings (Fatwa) of Muslim Islamic jurists]), describes as “the underlying root of the word jizya is jaza, and defines it as “A sum of money to be put on anyone who enters the themah (protection and the treaty of the Muslims) from the people of the book“.

It is usually portrayed by certain critics that jizya is a mechanism for discriminating non-muslims in an Islamic-society. This is a common misconception; jizya is a political method dealing with finance.

One of the main pillars of Islam is called Zakat (Muslims whose wealth is above a certain limit must pay a percentage of it (in most cases 2.5%) to the poor and needy). Islam does not “force” upon non-muslims to follow one of it’s main pillar. This certainly quietens some critics who would otherwise be accusing Islam of imposing itself on them. Just like in a non-muslim society muslims pay tax, likewise non-muslims are obliged to pay certain percentage of their money to the Islamic State. It is quite hypocritical of non-muslims to criticize Jizya, whilst, in non-muslims countries muslims have to pay tax. If tax is justified then so should jizya be.

Regarding the amount of jizya Shaykh Abu’l-Hasan Al-Mawardi (d. 1058CE) writes in his book Al-Mawardi, al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah, Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd. 1996, pp. 209-210:

“The fuqaha (Jurists) differ as to the amount of the Jizya. Abu Hanifa considers that those subject to this tax are of three kinds: the rich from whom forty-eight dirhams are taken; those of average means from whom twenty four are taken, and the poor from whom twelve dirhams are taken: he thus stipulated the minimum and maximum amounts and prohibits any further judgement on behalf of those responsible for its collection. Malik, however, does not fix its minimum and maximum amount and considers that those responsible should make their own judgement as to the minimum and maximum. Ash-Shafi’i considers that the minimum is a dinar, and that it is not permitted to go below this while he does not stipulate the maximum, the latter being dependant on the ijtihad (judgement) of those responsible: the Imam, however, should try to harmonise between the different amounts, or to exact an amount in accordance with people’s means.”

In conclusion, this verse refers to a non-muslim who doesn’t pay poll-tax in Islamic State and thus does not contribute to the financial needs of the territory. It is generally agreed by the four major Jurists that jizya money is based upon one’s income. We ought also not forget that muslims are also obliged to pay Zakat.

Some critics try to pose the conception that the verse ought to be translated as “Kill those who believe…” instead of “Fight those who believe…” They claim since the verse uses the arabic word Qateloo, which comes from the root word Qaatil. However, there is derivitive field in arabic, when prefix and suffix are added, it determines the defination of verse in context. If it meant to say kill, verse would have said uqtulo or Uqtul.

According to the Ectaco English-Arabic Online Dictionary, in arabic words for “Fight” are:

N مقاومة, شجار, مباراة في المِكمة, صراع, وغى, عراك, مناوشة, كفاح, نضال, مِكمة,
V حارب, قاتل, تقاتل, تبارز, كافح, ناضل, ِكم, خاض معركة, قاوم [Source ]
Note: As the dictionary testifies one of the word for Fight is Qaatil (in a verb). Furthermore, in english, word Qaatil is translated thus:
A DEADLY, LETHAL, VITAL, MURDERED, MURDEROUS,
N KILLER, MANSLAYER, MURDERER, ASSASSIN,
V BATTLE, COMBAT, ENGAGE, FIGHT, WAR [ Source ]

So Fight indeed is a correct translation, in a context of a VERB. Also the jizya is only upon livings, dead people cannot pay money. Therefore “kill until they pay jizya” would also have logical contradictions, as killing would cause jizya to be abolished.

Quran 8:12-13 and 8:17
Anti-Islam websites quote this verse as:
“I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger tips off them. This because they contend against God and his apostle…”

Let’s read verses from 8:12-16:

When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment. That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire. O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless manoeuvring for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s end. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 8:12-16)

Hence when read in its textual context the verse is referring to smiting in the time of BATTLE. Now let’s read 8:17 which is presented in absence of 8:14-16:

Ye (Muslims) slew them not, but Allah slew them. And thou (Muhammad) threwest not when thou didst throw, but Allah threw, that He might test the believers by a fair test from Him. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 8:12-16)

Verses 8:12-17 are in the context of Battle Of Badr. Ansar Al-’Adl ( Source ) comments on 8:12-13:
“The historical context is that this verse was revealed at the Battle of Badr, a battle in which the pagans of Makkah traveled over 200 miles to destroy the Muslims of Madinah. The Pagans of Makkah had an army of about 1000 while the Muslims were only 300 followers. The Prophet Muhammad ((peace be upon him)) and his followers had suffered severe persecutions and torture for 13 years in the city of Makkah. Having fled from Makkah to the safety of Madinah, they found that they were once again threatened.”

Al-Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum; Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, Dar-us-Salam Publications, 1996; pp. 219-220, says:

“When the fierce engagement grew too hot he (Prophet Muhammed) again began to supplicate his Lord saying: “O Allâh! Should this group (of Muslims) be defeated today, You will no longer be worshipped.”…. Immediate was the response from Allâh, Who sent down angels from the heavens for the help and assistance of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and his companions. The Noble Qur’ân observes:

And recall when your Lord inspired the angels: “Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved.” [8:12]”

Furthermore, 8:19 says:
(O Qureysh!) If ye sought a judgment, now hath the judgment come unto you. And if ye cease (from persecuting the believers) it will be better for you, but if ye return (to the attack) We also shall return. And your host will avail you naught, however numerous it be, and (know) that Allah is with the believers (in His Guidance). (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 8:19)

It is obvious from historical and textual context therefore that the verse in no sense promote killing of innocents. Verse 8:19 reaches out a hand of peace towards the Qureysh despite their aggression.

Quran 5:51
Translation of PICKTHAL is usually quoted:
O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. (PICKTHAL Translation Quran 5:51)

The arabic word Awliya used in 5:51 is mistranslated by PICKTHAL and other major translators. More accurate translation of the word Awliya would be “Protector” , “allies” or “intimate friends”. Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi says [ Source ]

“In the verse you quoted, the word “Awliya” is used. It is a plural and its singular is “wali”. The correct translation of the word “”wali”" is not “friend” but it is someone who is very close and intimate. It is also used to mean “guardian, protector, patron, lord and master.”

In addition, according to Ectaco Online Dictionary, root word of Awliya (Al-wali الولي) means:

N PROTECTOR

Whilst according to the same dictionary words for friends in arabic are:
N صديق, رفيق, زميل, نصير, الصاحبي عضو من جماعة المهتزين, الرفيق,
V صادق, آزر
[ Source ]

Al-Wali and awliya are NOT mentioned in the above list of friends.

However, according to the same dictionary, an Arabic word for protector is الولي (the wali):

N الحامي, المدافع, الولي, النصير, الواقية أداة للوقاية من اّذى, الوصي على العرش
[ Source ]

Allah says that Allah alone is the Auliya (in a sense of a protector):
The likeness of those who take Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers) other than Allâh is as the likeness of a spider, who builds (for itself) a house, but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house; if they but knew. (Al-’Ankabut 29:41)

Or have they taken (for worship) Auliyâ’ (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, etc.) besides Him? But Allâh, He Alone is the Walî (Protector, etc.). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things. (Ash-Shura 42:9)

The word Auliya is also used as a substitiotion for God/Lord:

Say (O Muhammad SAW): “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say: “(It is) Allâh.” Say: “Have you then taken (for worship) Auliyâ’ (protectors, etc.) other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm to themselves?” Say: “Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light? Or do they assign to Allâh partners who created the like of His creation, so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them.” Say: “Allâh is the Creator of all things, He is the One, the Irresistible.” (Ra’d 13:16)

Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My slaves [i.e., the angels, Allâh’s Messengers, ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), etc.] as Auliyâ’ (lords, gods, protectors, etc.) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism). (Al-Kahf 18:102)

Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allâh (if He wants to punish you). Verily, the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers, etc.) are Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers, etc.) to one another, but Allâh is the Walî (Helper, Protector, etc.) of the Muttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2). (Al-Jathiyah 45:19)

Or have they taken (for worship) Auliyâ’ (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, etc.) besides Him? But Allâh, He Alone is the Walî (Protector, etc.). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things. (Ash-Shura 42:9)

Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only. And those who take Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh.” Verily, Allâh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. (Az-Zumar 39:3)

Quran 9:111
Verses 9:111-112 states:
Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme. Those that turn (to Allah) in repentance; that serve Him, and praise Him; that wander in devotion to the cause of Allah,: that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limit set by Allah;- (These do rejoice). So proclaim the glad tidings to the Believers. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 9:111-112)

As we read in Quran limits set by Allah are: “Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.” (Yusuf Ali Translation, Quran 2:190).

Thus in the light of 2:190 it can be easily understood that the verse teaches self-defence in a form of a physical jihad (striving in the path of Allah). Let us also remember the rest of context of Chapter 9, which we have discussed before in 9:5 and 9:29.

Part 2: Providing accurate picture of Islam

Quran preaches peace
Unsurprisingly, Islam-critic shy away from posting verses of the Quran, which preaches peace. By bombarding verses out of their context or using dubious translations they seek to give the impression that a book such as Quran leaves no place for peace.

Can muslim and non-muslim co-exist?
One of the common misconception is that Quran teaches that either non-muslim must be forced to become muslim or they must be put to death. They justify themselves by misquoting verses, most of which we have discussed in this article. Now, let’s examine what Quran really says, does Quran allow non-muslim to keep their religion? One whole chapter is dedicated in Quran to this topic called Surah Kafiroon (Chapter THE DISBELIEVERS):

Say: O disbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 109:1-6)

The chapter gives crystal-clear evidence of “let and let live”. Quran states “Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion”. Thus no enforcement of religion by sword or otherwise is suggested in Islam. Furthermore, Quran says that there is no compulsion in religion; non-muslims do not have to become muslims against their wishes:

There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error. And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a firm handhold which will never break. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 2:256)

Does Quran not say kill (innocent) non-believers?
Murder is a grave sin in Islam, Quran says in 5:32:

For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah’s Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 5:32)

As Quran points out killing an innocent being is like killing an entire humanity, which naturally leaves no place for killing innocents. It must be pointed out that Quran states “…whosoever killeth a human being…”, thus referring to a human being and not simply restricted to muslims.

Quran also says:
And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 17:33)

Quran emphasises not to slay unjustly!

Does Quran not states to hate non-muslims and treat them unjustly?
This is another common misconception, Quran itself describes how ought a muslim to a treat non-muslims:

Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 60:8)

Quran states to deal KINDLY and JUSTLY with those who don’t fight us. It does not only order muslims “not to live and let live” but to even go a step further in living peacefully and deal with them kindly and justly.

Another verse says:
O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do. Allah hath promised those who believe and do good works: Theirs will be forgiveness and immense reward. (PICKTHAL Translation, Quran 5:8-9)

Allah emphasises not to let hatred of people prevent them from upholding justice.

Does Quran not say to wage war with non-muslims for any reason possible?
Quran states:

To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid;- (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, “our Lord is Allah”. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will). (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 22:39-40)

There are reasons for which permission of war is given is mentioned in the verse as those have been wronged and “expelled from their homes in defiance of right” because they are muslim. Quran also calls upon it’s followers not to transgress limits:

Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. (YUSUF ALI Translation, Quran 2:190)

We Conclude with the following verse of the Quran:

How should ye not fight for the cause of Allah and (for the cause) of the feeble among men and of the women and the children who are crying: Our Lord! Bring us forth from out this town of which the people are oppressors! Oh, give us from thy presence some protecting friend! Oh, give us from Thy presence some defender! [4:75]

Why Does Allah (swt) Refer to Himself as We/He?

2007-12-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

We already know Allah our lord is One. As in Surah al-Ikhlas 112:1-4. But why does Allah the Lord use the word “We” to refer to Himself in many verse or ayat in the Qur’an? For example He says in Surah al-Anbiya’ 21:107 “And We did not send you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the world.” The word “we” is plural, more than one. Why does Allah use “We” instead of “I” to refer to Himself?
Answer:
It is a feature of literary style in Arabic that a person may refer to themself by the pronoun nahnu (we) for respect or glorification. They may also use the word ana (I), indicating one person, or the third person huwa (he). All three styles are used in the Qur'an, where Allah addresses the Arabs in their own tongue.

Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, sometimes refers to Himself in the singular, by name or by use of a pronoun, and sometimes by use of the plural, as in the phrase (interpretation of the meaning):

"Verily, We have given you a manifest victory." [al-Fat'h 48:1], and other similar phrases.

But Allah never refers to Himself by use of the dual, because the plural refers to the respect that He deserves, and may refer to His names and attributes, whereas the dual refers to a specific number (and nothing else), and He is far above that." (See Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 75.)

These words, inna "Verily We" and nahnu "We", and other forms of the plural, may be used by one person speaking on behalf of a group, or they may be used by one person for purposes of respect or glorification, as is done by some monarchs when they issue statements or decrees in which they say "We have decided…" etc. [This is known in English as "The Royal We"]

In such cases, only one person is speaking but the plural is used for respect. The One Who is more deserving of respect than any other is Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, so when He says in the Qur'an - inna "Verily We" and nahnu "We", it is for respect and glorification, not to indicate plurality of numbers.

If an 'aayah (verse) of this type is causing confusion, it is essential to refer to the clear, unambiguous 'aayat (verses) for clarification, and if a Christian, for example, insists on taking 'aayat such as (interpretation of the meaning) "Verily, We: it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e., the Qur'an)…" [al-Hijr 15:9] as proof of divine plurality, we may refute this claim by quoting such clear and unambiguous 'aayat as (interpretation of the meanings): "And your God is One God, there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful." [al-Baqarah 2:163] and "Say: He is Allah, the One." [al-Ikhlas 112:1] and other 'aayat which can only be interpreted in one way. Thus confusion will be dispelled for the one who is seeking the truth.

Every time Allah uses the plural to refer to Himself, it is based on the respect and honor that He deserves, and on the great number of His names and attributes, and on the great number of His troops and angels." (See Al-'Aqeedah al-Tadmuriyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 109.)

Alternate Answer:

This is a good question and one that Bible readers have also asked about. The term "We" in the Bible and in the Quran is the royal "We" - as an example when the king says, "We decree the following declaration, etc." or, "We are not amused." It does not indicate plural; rather it displays the highest position in the language. English, Persian, Hebrew, Arabic and many languages provide for the usage of "We" for the royal figure. It is helpful to note the same dignity is given to the person being spoken to in English. We say to someone, "You ARE my friend." Yet the person is only one person standing there. Why did we say "ARE" instead of "IS"? The noun "you" is singular and should therefore be associated with a singular verb for the state of being, yet we say, "are." The same is true for the speaker when referring to himself or herself. We say, "I am" and this is also in the royal plural, instead of saying, "I is."

When Allah uses the term "HE" in Quran it is similar to the above answer. The word "He" is used when referring to Allah out of respect, dignity and high status. It would be totally inappropriate to use the word "it" and would not convey the proper understanding of Allah being who Allah is; Alive, Compassionate, Forgiving, Patient, Loving, etc. It is not correct to associate the word "He" with gender, as this would be comparing Allah to the creation, something totally against the teaching of Quran.

Who was Offered for Sacrifice – Ishmael or Isaac?

2007-12-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

Ibraheem`alayhissalaam’s son who was offered for sacrifice and whose sacrifice was accepted without being killed was very special in terms of Allah’s promise of blessings on him and his descendents as well as in terms of honour and closeness to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. This special honour for the son and his descendents has created two differing claims as to the identity of the son who was offered for sacrifice.

The Muslims believe that the son whom Ibraheem`alayhissalaam offered for sacrifice was Isma'el`alayhissalaam, while the Jewish traditions claim that it was Is-haaq `alayhissalaam.

As the sequence of events has demonstrated in the Festival of Sacrifice article, the Holy Qur-aan makes it abundantly clear that the son who was offered for sacrifice was the first-born, Isma'el (Ishmael)`alayhissalaam. The second son, Is-haaq (Isaac)`alayhissalaam, was born miraculously as a reward for the acceptance of the sacrifice from Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam.

In addition to the clear context and the sequence of the story, the Holy Qur-aan gives more clues in this regard. For example:

1. An outstanding quality mentioned for Isma'el`alayhissalaam in the Holy Qur-aan is that he was true to his promise, because he willingly presented himself for sacrifice and promised to be patient and steadfast. He was true to his word and willingly lay down to be slaughtered.

And mention Isma'el in the book, he surely was true to his promise and was a messenger prophet. (Maryam 19:54)

2. The son who was offered for sacrifice was born in answer to prayers (Isma'el) and his outstanding quality was forbearance (Hilm) and patience (Sabr) as indicated in the verses quoted in the Festival of Sacrifice article as well as the following:

And Isma'el, Idrees and Dzul-kifl, all of them were from those who practice patience and steadfastness (saabireen). (Al-Anbiyaa 21:85)

The son who was given because Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala was happy with Ibraheem `alayhissalaam’s submission and who brought happiness to Sarah was Is-haaq (derived from laughter) whose outstanding quality was knowledge:

And they (angels) gave him (Ibraheem) the good news of a knowledgeable son. (Adz-Dzaariyaat 51:28)

None of the distinguishing attributes of the son offered for sacrifice have been attributed to Is-haaq `alayhissalaam as his special qualities either in the Qur-aan or in the Bible. The Holy Qur-aan attributes them as distinguishing qualities only to Isma'el `alayhissalaam.

3. After concluding the story of Ibraheem `alayhissalaam with verse 112, the Holy Qur-aan makes a concluding statement for both sons of Ibraheem`alayhissalaam. In doing so, it mentions the son who was offered for sacrifice without name and then mentions Is-haaq separately by name -- both being blessed by Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala:

And We blessed him (the one presented for sacrifice and mentioned in the verses (101-107) as well as Is-haaq, and from descendents of both, there are good and there are those who are clearly unjust to themselves. (As-Saafaat 37:113)

One may ask why the Holy Qur-aan has not clearly mentioned Isma'el`alayhissalaam’s name? The style of the Holy Qur-aan is that it does not mention anything that is clear from the text and is well known in the society. From the text and the order of the verses the fact was evident that the son who was offered for sacrifice was the first born and that the second son was born only after the sacrifice episode. Similarly, in Arabian society, the presentation of Isma'el `alayhissalaam for sacrifice was well known and accepted. So much so that every year without fail Arabs used to present sacrifices in remembrance of Isma'el’s sacrifice. Hence to mention something that obvious was against the concise style of the Qur-aan. Had it not been Isma'el, the first born who was given in answer to prayers, then the name would have definitely been mentioned. No mention of the name is evidence in itself that it was Isma'el`alayhissalaam.

Unfortunately, to discredit Arabs and the Prophet Muhammad Sall Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, the Jews manipulated their books and tried to hide the facts mentioned in the Bible about Ibraheem `alayhissalaam’s activities in Makkah, conceal his association with Holy Ka’bah, and Marwah and tried to attribute sacrifice and other good things about Isma'el to Is-haaq. The Holy Qur-aan has repeatedly pointed out their efforts in obfuscating and concealing the facts and encouraged to reform their behaviour. For example:

After giving a detailed account of the achievements of Ibraheem and Isma'el i`alayhimussalaam including their construction of the Holy Ka’bah, the Qur-aan says:

And who is more unjust than he who conceals a testimony that he has from Allah? And Allah is not at all unaware of what you do. (Al-Baqarah 2:140)

After mentioning Qiblah, it says:

Those whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their sons, but some of them most surely conceal the truth while they know (it). (Al-Baqarah 2:146)

After mentioning Safaa and Marwah, it says:

Surely those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance that We revealed after We made it clear in the Book for people, it is they whom Allah shall curse, and those who curse shall curse them (too). Except those who repent and amend and make manifest (the truth), it is they to whom I turn (mercifully); and I am the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. (Al-Baqarah 2:159-160)

After mentioning the truth about Holy Ka’bah, Makkah and the Hajj, it says:

Say: O people with the Book! Why do you disbelieve in the revelations of Allah, while Allah is witness on what you do? Say: O people with the Book! Why do you hinder a believer from the way of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you are witnesses (to its truth)? And Allah is not unaware of what you are doing. (Aali-‘Imraan 3:96-99)

When many Jews and Christians became Muslims, some of them brought their knowledge and impressions about the previous Biblical personalities along with them and starting spreading those ideas among Muslims as well. When that kind of information started circulating among Muslims, it created confusions in the minds of some Muslims as well.

However, the Judaeo-Christian efforts to conceal the truth have not succeeded very well. A little careful study exposes what has transpired. Their manipulations of the text of their books have created many inconsistencies and improprieties. For example, they claim that the son who was offered for sacrifice was Is-haaq (Isaac). They base their claim on the following verse of the Bible:

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2)

But, there is a slight problem with this statement in the Bible. According to the Bible itself when Isaac`alayhissalaam was born, Ibraheem `alayhissalaam already had a 14-year-old son, Isma'el `alayhissalaam. So, if the son who was offered for sacrifice was ‘the only son’, it cannot be Isaac because Isaac was never an only son even for one day. It has to be Isma'el who was ‘the only son’ for 14 years.

To this argument, their response is: ‘the only son’ actually means ‘the only son from his own wife’, ‘the only blessed son’, etc. Unfortunately, all of these explanations are fabricated because the words of the Bible ‘the only son’ do not include any of the qualifiers these people want to attach with the phrase. In addition, the Bible itself negates all of these claims. According to the Bible, Isma'el was Ibraheem `alayhissalaam’s, legitimate, beloved and blessed son as per the following examples:

“And Sarah Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:3)

“And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.” (An Nahl 16:15)

In the same day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. (Al Israa' 17:26)

In fact, Isma'el was Ibraheem’s `alayhissalaam most beloved son. When Ibraheem`alayhissalaam was given the good news that he would father Is-haaq, instead of being excited about the second son, the bible records that Ibraheem`alayhissalaam responded immediately with a prayer for Isma'el `alayhissalaam:

“And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!” (Genesis 17:19) (i.e., he lives under the kind, blessed and protective sight of Allah).

This indicates his passionate love for Isma'el. God in the bible responded:

“And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.” (Genesis 17:20)

Another reason that it could not have been Isaac `alayhissalaam is that before Isaac was born, God in the bible told Ibraheem `alayhissalaam that:

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19 KJV)

Sarah your wife shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. (Genesis 17:19 RSV)

If Ibraheem`alayhissalaam was already told that Isaac `alayhissalaam’s descendents will have covenant with Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala, how could Allah then test Ibraheem`alayhissalaam by asking for his sacrifice, considering also that episode of sacrifice happened long before the son offered for sacrifice could be married or have children?

In fact, the son who was offered for sacrifice was given the good news of many descendents only at the completion of the episode of sacrifice, and the good news of Isaac`alayhissalaam’s birth was also given at that time:

And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:16-18)

Also, the place where episode of sacrifice took place was Marwah – a hillock besides the house of Allah in Makkah, which in the Bible was misspelled and pronounced as Moriah, of which name there has been no place.

Even if, for the sake of argument, we set aside every other evidence, the strongest evidence comes from the history, practices and traditions of Jews and Arabs. It is a well-known fact that Jewish customs and practices have been largely determined by the lifestyle of their patriarchs. They circumcise their children because Ibraheem`alayhissalaam did; they do not eat the meat from the hind of an animal because of an incident that occurred when Jacob`alayhissalaam wrestled with God; they do not eat anything that Jacob did not eat for his own personal reasons, etc. Surprisingly, their whole history is devoid of any practice of sacrifice in remembrance of Ibraheem`alayhissalaam’s offering his son for sacrifice.

On the other hand, since the day Isma'el was offered as sacrifice, Arabs have been offering sacrifice of animals in commemoration of the sacrifice of their great grandfather, Isma'el, at the same place where and on the same day of the year when the original sacrifice happened. That had continued throughout their history every year without fail until the advent of Muhammad Sall Allahu`alayhi wa sallam and has continued since then among Muslims without any break.

It is reported that even the horns of the Ram that replaced Isma'el`alayhissalaam were preserved in the Holy Ka’bah but were lost when the building of Ka’bah collapsed during the army action by Hajjaaj bin Yousuf.

Every year, millions of Muslim continue offering their sacrifices on that day and place. In fact, people start their journey of Hajj with the same words that Ibraheem uttered when he realized that he has been called upon to sacrifice his son. Even the Bible records that:

After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." (Genesis 22:1)

The people going for Hajj say the same thing: Labbayk, Allahumma Labbayk. Here I am, O Allah, here I am.

Eid Al-Adha [Festival of Sacrifice]

2007-12-17T00:04:00.000-08:00

A Commemoration of the Devotion of Ibraheem and Isma'el (AS)
By Ayub A. Hamid

Every year at the time of Eidal-Adhaa and Hajj, we recount the story of Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam. Their lives were permeated with the Love of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa and with dedication to His service and obedience. They loved and obeyed Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala to such a level of perfection that Allah presented them as model Muslims, the way every Muslim should be. Their lifestyle is not only a perfect model of Submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala but also a beautiful example of an ideal parent-child understanding without any generation gap.

There are many lessons we should learn from their story, but for the sake of brevity, we will concentrate only on the episode of sacrifice.

The Story of Ibraheem and Isma'el (peace be upon them)
As you know, Ibraheem was born in a society where many false gods such as idols, stars, planets and moons were being worshipped and offerings were made to them. Animals and even humans were sacrificed to keep those false gods happy.

Ibraheem `alayhissalaam had dedicated his life to call people to abandon false gods and only believe in Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, the One and Only Creator. The sole mission of his life was to bring the message of Islam (complete obedience to Allah in every aspect of one’s life) to all people around him. His objective, like every other prophet and messenger, was to call people to submit in obedience to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala and to establish an Islamic society – a political entity where majority of people were dedicated Muslims and that society of Muslims was a model of peace, love, caring, sharing, fairness, justice, generosity, human equality, dignity, balance and moderation.

His people rejected his call completely and decided to kill him by throwing him into the burning fire from which Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala saved him. Now it was evident that he could not live among those people and carry out his mission. He did not know where to go, but he departed with faith and trust in Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala He had grown old working tirelessly for that purpose and felt a need for someone to carry on this mission of love – inviting people to true Islam and establishing a Muslim-majority Islamic state consisting of those who accept the invitation. This goal gave him a strong desire for a son who could continue his mission. After a lot of Du`aa (supplications), Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala granted him a son when he was extremely old. He was named Isma'el (which meant: Allah has heard) because Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala had listened to the Du`aa of Ibraheem`alayhissalaam. This son, Isma'el, was Ibraheem`alayhissalaam’s dearest and most beloved asset in this world.

When Isma'el`alayhissalaam was about thirteen (Ibraheem being 99), Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala decided to test their faith in and submission to Allah in public. Both father and son were put through the most difficult test of their love for Allah. Ibraheem `alayhissalaam saw in a dream that he was sacrificing Isma'el – an unimaginable act – sacrificing the son he begot after so much Du`aa, the only one he had and the one who had been the centre of his affection and love for all these years. Ibraheem `alayhissalaam knew that the dreams of the prophets were inspired by Allah. They were one of the ways Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aaa communicated with his prophets. This must be what Allah wanted him to do. When the intent of the dream became clear to him, Ibraheem`alayhissalaam decided to offer his beloved son in sacrifice. Although it would be easier for him to give his own life rather than take his son’s, he willingly surrendered to the perceived commandment. To him, as to any Muslim, the love for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala must always be supreme and strongest. Every other love must be subservient to the love of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, hence sacrificeable for His sake.

Although Ibraheem `alayhissalaam was ready to sacrifice his dearest for Allah’s sake, he could not just go and drag his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Isma'el had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to die for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. This consultation would be a test of Isma'el’s maturity in faith, love for Allah, Islamic commitment, willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah and parent’s obedience. It would also be a test of how well Ibraheem had been able to train his son in Islam and how close or apart were the two Muslims of different generations in their thinking, approach and attitude.

Ibraheem `alayhissalaam presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Isma'el’s reaction was absolutely astounding. He did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, “Father, proceed ahead for what you have been commanded. You will find me, Inshaa Allah, very patient.” His mature response, his insight into the nature of dad’s dreams, his willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah and commitment to Allah’s submission were all unparalleled. The most amazing and noteworthy, however, was the perfect coherence and unity of thought, attitude and outlook between the father and the son. We do not see any generation gap between the two because both of them were looking at life through an Islamic paradigm – that a Muslim must submit to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala in any circumstances and that love for Allah is over and above any other love in the life of a Muslim.

When both father and son had shown their perfect obedience to Allah and they had practically demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice their most precious possessions for His sake -- Ibraheem `alayhissalaam by laying down his son for sacrifice and Isma'el by lying patiently under the knife – Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala saved Isma'el and replaced him with a ram. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala also told them that they had passed the test with flying colours and that they had fulfilled what Ibraheem `alayhissalaam was shown in the dream.

This is mentioned in the Holy Qur-aan as follows:

They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!" They sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated! And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practising patience and steadfastness!" So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants. (As-Saafaat 37:97-111)

It was as one of the reward for this sacrifice that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala gave Ibraheem `alayhissalaam good news of the second son, Is-haaq (Isaac):

And We gave him the good news of Is-haaq, a prophet among the good ones. (As-Saafaat 37:112)

According to the Bible, the good news about Is-haaq was given when Ibraheem was 99 years old and Is-haaq (Isaac) was born when Ibraheem was 100 years old (3). However, the Bible omits the mention of the sacrifice at that time and only mentions circumcision of Ibraheem and Isma'el `alayhimussalam (4). The Holy Qur-aan clarifies the reality that it was a tremendous demonstration of submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala in the form of sacrifice, not a small thing like circumcision that pleased Allah so much that He miraculously bestowed Ibraheem `alayhissalaam another son despite the fact that he and Sarah both had long passed their normal child bearing age and Sarah was barren all her life (5).

This was the greatest of the tests Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam went through. Its difficulty was compounded by the fact that Ibraheem`alayhissalaam had invested a lot of love and affection during 12-13 years of Isma'el’s life and Isma'el`alayhissalaam had grown up to cherish his own life. The test would have been easier for both the father and the son, if Isma'el were newborn where bonding between father and son had not taken place and where the son could not have grown up to enjoy his life. But Allah selected the most difficult time for this test to demonstrate their true level of commitment to Allah’s pleasure.

This test demonstrated to the world the following:

1. Ibraheem and Isma'el `alayhimussalaam are not just theorizing about Allah as the One and Only Creator, but He is a real entity in whom they truly and sincerely believe and to whom they happily and willingly submit;

2. Unlike false gods who neither know that they are being worshipped nor can react to the actions of their worshippers, the true God if fully aware of what His slaves do and He interacts with them;

3. The One True God does not expect people to offer ritual human sacrifices. People lose their life to ritual sacrifice only because of the falsehood created by those who promote false gods.

Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala loved their example of total dedication and devotion to His commandment so much that He made it incumbent on all Muslims until the Day of Judgment to commemorate Ibraheem’s and Isma'el’s `alayhimussalaam spirit of complete submission to Allah through a yearly celebration of their sacrifice. The major purpose is that the Muslims can refresh, understand and internalize the full implications of claiming to be ‘Muslims’ (i.e. obedience to Allah) by simulating the act of sacrifice devotedly performed by Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam.

Every year Eidal-Adhaa must remind us that:

1. A lifestyle of complete and total submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala is the essence of being a Muslim;

2. A Muslim willingly sacrifices his/her most cherished belongings (things, ideas, habits, desires) in obedience to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala;

3. A properly practicing Muslim family does not encounter a generation gap between different generations of Muslims. A gap between two generations is caused only by the presence of un-Islamic behaviours or attitudes in either of the generations or both.

Eidal-Adhaa is not merely an occasion of ritual celebrations, but an annual tune-up of one’s lifestyle so that it becomes a lifestyle that is totally submerged in submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. It is a celebration of simulating a Muslim’s readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah. May Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala grant us the strength of spirit and will to perfectly emulate the examples of Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam in every facet of our daily struggle to become better Muslims, Inshaa Allah.

Link Exchange

2007-12-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

As-Salamu Alaykum

If you would like a link exchange, please write a comment with your URL. I will add it to my blog, and hope you do the same.

Andalus

Arabic Gems

Damascus Dreams

Easy Islam

Fa firroo ila-llaah

Fajr

Maqasid

Path to Jannah

The Only Religion

Description of Paradise According to Quran and Sunnah - Part 2.

2007-12-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

The Companions in Paradise

“But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow, Every time they are provided with fruits there from they say, ‘Why, this is what we were provided with before,’ for they are given things in resemblance. They have therein pure companions, and they abide therein forever.”
[Baqarah, 2: 25]

“And (there will be) companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes, likened to well – guarded pearls, a reward for what they used to do.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 22-24]

“And beside them will be chaste women restraining their glances (companions) of equal age.”
[Saad, 38: 52]

“In them will be chaste (Maidens) restraining their glances, whom no man or jinn before them has touched.”
[Rahman, 55: 56]

“In them will be fair companions, good and beautiful.”
[Rahman, 55: 70]

“We have created their companions of special creation and made them virgins, loving by nature and equal in age for the companions of the right hand.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 35-38]

“Companions restrained as to their glances in pavilions.”
[Rahman, 55: 72
“Verily, for the righteous there will be attainment of security gardens enclosed and grapevines, companions of equal age and a cup full (to the brim).”
[Naba, 78: 31-34]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The members if the first group to enter Paradise will have faces as bright as the full moon during the night. The next group will have faces as bright as the shining stars in the sky. Every person will have two wives, and the marrow of their shanks will glimmer beneath the flesh. There will be non without a wife in Paradise.”
[Muslim]

After Harithah (radiAllahu anhu) had been martyred by an arrow thrown by an unknown person on the Day (of the battle) of Badr, his mother came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) she said:
“O Allah’s Apostle, you know the position of Harithah in my heart. (how dear he was to her). So if he is in Paradise, I will not weep for him. Otherwise, you will see what I will do.”
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Are you mad? Is there only one Paradise? There are many Paradises and he is in the highest Paradise of Firdaus”
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) added, “A forenoon journey or an afternoon journey in Allah’s cause is better than the whole world and whatever is in it. A place equal to an arrow bow of anyone of you or a place equal to a foot in Paradise is better than the whole world and what ever is in it. If one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill whatever is in between them with perfume. The veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Garments of Paradise

“Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow, they shall be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. They have been guided in this life to good speech, and they have been guided to the path of Him, the All Praised.”
[Hajj, 22: 23-24]

“For them will be gardens of eternity, rivers flowing beneath them. They will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on raised thrones. How good the reward! How beautiful a place of rest!”
[Kahf, 18: 31]

“As for the righteous, (they will be) in a position of security among gardens and springs, dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, facing each other. And We shall join them to companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.”
[Dukhan, 44: 51-54]

“Gardens of eternity that they will enter, they will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls. Their garments will be of silk. They will say, “Praise be to Allah who has removed from us (All) sorrow, for our Lord is indeed oft –forgiving, appreciative out of His bounty. No toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein.”
[Fatir, 35: 33-35]

“Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. ‘Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been appreciated.”
[Insan, 76: 21-22]

Al-Barah ibn ‘Azib (radiAllahu anhu) said: “Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was given a silken garment, and its beauty and delicacy astonished the people. On that, Allah apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘No doubt, the handkerchiefs of Sa’d bin Mu’aadh in Paradise are better than this.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Bracelets of the People of Paradise

“Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They shall be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk. They have been guided (in this life) to good speech, and they have been guided to the path of Him, and the All-praised.”
[Hajj, 22: 23-24]

“For them will be gardens of eternity, rivers flowing beneath them. They will be adorned with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on raised thrones. How good the reward! How beautiful a place of rest!”
[Kahf, 18: 31]

“Upon them will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. ‘Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been appreciated.’”
[Insan, 76: 21-22]

“Gardens of eternity they will enter. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls. Their garments will be of silk. They will say, ‘Praise be to Allah who has removed from us, (all) sorrow, for our Lord is indeed oft-forgiving, appreciative, who has settled us in the house of lasting residence out of His bounty. No toil no sense of weariness shall touch us therein.”
[Fatir, 35: 33-35]

The Youthful Servants of Paradise

“Around them will circulate eternal youths with goblets, beakers and cups filled from clear and flowing fountains, no after, ache will they there from, nor will they suffer intoxication, and also with fruits, any that they may select; and the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 17-21]

“Around them will circulate (devoted) youths resembling well guarded pearls.”
[Tur, 52: 24

“Around them, youths of perpetual (freshness) will serve. If you see them, you will think they are scattered pearls).”
[Insan, 76: 19]

The Activities of the People of Paradise

“Verily, the companions of the Garden are in occupation they enjoy. They and their spouses will be in cool shade, reclining on thrones.”
[Ya-Sin, 36: 55-56]

“Then those who have believed and worked righteous deeds will be in a garden (of happiness), honored.”
[Rum, 30: 15]

“(They will be) facing each other on thrones. Passed around to them will be a cup from a clear, flowing fountain, crystal, white, of a taste so delicious to those who drink from it. It is free from headiness, and they will not suffer intoxication from it. Beside them will be chaste women, restraining their glances, with big eyes of wonder and beauty, as if they were delicate eggs, closely guarded.”
[Safat, 37: 44-49]

“But on this day the believers will laugh at the unbelievers. On thrones they will command a sight of all things. Are the unbelievers not rewarded (finally) for what they used to do?”
[Mutaffifeen, 83: 34-36]

“They will say, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has truly fulfilled His promise to us and has made us inherit the earth. We can dwell in the garden where we will. How excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!”
[Zumar, 39: 74]

“They will advance to each other, engaging in mutual enquiry. They will say, ‘We used to be fearful of Allah and His punishment among our people. But Allah has been good to us and has delivered us from the penalty of the scorching wind. Truly, we used to call upon Him before. Truly, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful.”
[Tur, 52: 25-28]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The (members of the ) first group that will be admitted to Paradise will have their faces as bright as a full moon during the night. They will neither spit nor suffer anything. They will have their utensils and their combs made of gold and silver, and the fuel of their braziers will be aloes, and their sweat will be musk and everyone of them will have two spouses (so beautiful) that the marrow of their shanks will be visible through the flesh. There will be no dissension among them and no enmity in their hearts. Their hearts will be like one heart, glorifying Allah morning and evening.”
[Muslim]

The Ranks of Paradise

“Those who believe, emigrate and strive with might and main in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their persons have the highest rank in the sigh of Allah. They are the ones who will achieve (salvation). Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.”
[Tawbah, 9: 20-22]

“Look how We have bestowed more on some than on others. But verily in the hereafter is greater difference in rank and preference.”
[Isra', 17: 21]

“O you who believe! When you are told to make room in assemblies, (spread out and) make room. (Ample) room will Allah provide for you. And when you are told to rise up, rise up. Allah will raise those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge in rank. Allah is well – acquainted with all you do.”
[Mujadilah, 58: 11]

“Verily, he who comes to his Lord as a criminal (at judgment), for him is Hell, wherein he shall neither die nor live. But he who comes to Him as a believer who has worked righteous deeds, for them are ranks exalted gardens of eternity, beneath which flow rivers, dwelling therein forever. Such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil).”
[Ta-Ha, 20: 74-76]

It is narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), offers prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah’s cause or remains in the land where he is born.”
The people said, “Oh Allah’s Apostle! Shall we acquaint the people with this good news?” He said, “Paradise has one hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the mujaahidoon who fight in His cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the earth. So when you ask Allah (for something), ask for al-Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise.” (the subnarrator added, “I think the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) also said ‘Above it (alfirdaus) is the throne of the beneficent (Allah), and from its originate the rivers of Paradise.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The people of Paradise will look to the upper apartment of Paradise in the same way as you see the planets in the sky.”
[Muslim]

Abu Sa’eed al Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away in the East or in the West on the horizon. That is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards).” Because of that, the people said, “Oh Allah’s Apostle! Are these lofty mansions the prophets mansions which nobody else can reach?”
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied, “By Allah, in whose hands my life is, some men who believe in Allah and trust His Apostles will be able to reach them.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Umm Ar-Ruba'i bint Al-Barah (radiAllahu anha) the mother of Harithah ibin Suraqah (radiAllahu anhu) came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and said:
“Oh Allah’s Prophet! Will you tell me about Harithah?” Harithah had been killed (martyred) on the day of Badr with an arrow by an unidentified person. She added, “If he is in Paradise, I will weep bitterly for him.” He said, “Oh mother of Harithah! There are gardens in Paradise, and your son got the Firdaus at A'la (the best place in Paradise).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Lowest Rank in Paradise

Abdullah (radiAllahu anhu) said: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘I know the person who will be the last to come out of the Hellfire and the last to enter Paradise. He will be a man who will come out of the Hellfire crawling, and Allah will say to him, ‘Go and enter Paradise.” He will go to it, but will imagine that it has been filled, and then he will re turn and say, “Oh Lord, I have found it full.” Allah will say, “Go and enter Paradise, and you will have what equals the world and ten times as much (you will have as much as ten times the like of the world).” On that, the man will say, “Do you mock at me (laugh at me) though You are the King?” I saw Allah’s Apostle (SAW) (while saying that) smiling that his premolar teeth became visible. It is said that will be the lowest degree among the people of Paradise.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) said: “Some people said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?’ He said,
‘Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the sun when it is not hidden by clouds?’ They replied, ‘No, Allah’s Apostle’. He said, ‘Do you crowd and squeeze each other on looking at the moon when it is full and not hidden by clouds?’ They replied, No’, Allah’s Apostle’.
He said, ‘So you will see Him (your Lord) on the Day of Resurrection similarly. Allah will gather all the people and say, ‘Whoever used to worship anything should follow that thing.’ So he who used to worship the sun, will follow it; and he who used to worship the moon will follow it and he who used to worship false deities will follow them. And then only this nation (Muslims) will remain, including their hypocrites. Allah will come to them in a shape other than they know and will say, “I am your Lord.” They will say, “We seek refuge from you. This is our place (we will not follow you) till our Lord comes to us, and when our Lord comes to us, we will recognize Him.” Then Allah will come to them in a shape they know and will say, “I am your Lord,” They will say, “(No doubt) You are our Lord.” And they will follow Him. Then a bridge will be laid over the Hellfire.” And Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) added, ‘I will be the first to cross it.
The invocation of the apostles on that day will be, ‘Allahumma sallim, sallim! (O Allah save us, save us!)’ Over that bridge will be hooks similar to the thorns of as’sa’daan (a thorny tree). Didn’t you see the thorns of as’ sa’daan?’ The companions said, ‘Yes, Oh Allah’s Apostle.’ He added, ‘So the hooks over that bridge will be like the thorns of as’-sa’daan, except that their greatness in size is only known to Allah. These hooks will snatch the people according to their deeds. Some people will be ruined because of their evil deeds, and some will be cut into pieces and fall down in Hell, but will be saved afterwards when Allah finished the judgments among His slaves and intends to take out of the Fire whoever He wishes to take out from among those who used to testify that none had the right to be worshipped but Allah.

He will order the angels to take them out. The angels will know them by the mark of the traces of prostration (on their foreheads), for Allah banned the Fire to consume the traces of prostration on the body of Adam’s son. So they will take them out, and by then they will have been burnt (as coal). Then water, called maa’ul hayat (water of life) will be poured on them, and they will spring out like a seed springs out on the bank of a rainwater stream. There will remain one man who will be facing the Hellfire and will say, “OH Lord! Its (Hell) vapor has poisoned and smoked me, and its flame has burnt me. Please turn my face away from the Fire.” He will keep on invoking Allah till Allah says, “Perhaps if I give you (what you want), you will ask for another thing?” The man will say, “No, by Your power, I will not ask You for anything else.”
Then Allah will turn his face away from the Fire. The man will say after that, “Oh Lord, bring me near the gate of Paradise.” Allah will say to him, “Didn’t you promise not to ask for anything else? Woe to you, oh son of Adam! How treacherous you are!” The man will keep invoking Allah till Allah will say, “But if I give you that, you may ask me for something else.” The man will say, “No, by Your power, I will not ask for anything else.” He will give Allah his covenant and promise not to ask for anything else after that. So Allah will bring him near to the gate of Paradise. When he sees what is in it, he will remain silent as long as Allah wills, and then he will say, “Oh Lord! Let me enter Paradise.” Allah will say, “Didn’t you promise that you would not ask ME for anything other than that? Woe to you, oh son of Adam! How treacherous you are!” On that, the man will say, “Oh Lord! Do not make me the most wretched of Your creation,” and will keep on invoking Allah till Allah will smile. When Allah smiles because of him, then HE will allow him to enter Paradise. When he enters Paradise, he will be addressed, “Wish from so and so” He will wish until all his wishes are fulfilled. Then Allah will say, “All this (what you have wished for) and as much again therewith are for you.” Abu Hurairah (RA) added, ‘That man will be the last of the people of Paradise to enter Paradise.”

'Ata (radiAllahu anhu) narrated while Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reporting: “Abu Sa’eed (RA) was sitting in the company of Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) and he did not deny anything of his narration till he reached his saying, ‘All this and as much again therewith are for you.”
Then Abu Sa’eed (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘I heard Allah’s Apostle say, “This is for you and ten times as much.” Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) said, “In my memory it is as much again therewith.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Everlasting Life in Paradise

“But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden, abiding in it eternally.”
[surah al-Baqarah, 2: 82]

“There, no sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they ever be evicted.”
[Hijr, 15: 48]

“They will not taste death therein, except the first death, and He will preserve them from the penalty of the blazing Fire. (It will be) a bounty from your Lord. That will be the supreme achievement!”
[Dukhan, 44: 56-57]

“As for those who believe and work righteous deeds, they will have the gardens of Paradise as hospitality. Eternally therein, they will not desire any other place.”
[Kahf, 18: 107-108]

“Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment.”
[Tawbah, 9: 21]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“He who gets into Paradise (will be made to enjoy such and everlasting) bliss that he will neither become destitute nor will his clothes wear out nor will his youthfulness decline.”
[Muslim]

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) and Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) both narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There will be an announcer (in Paradise) who will make this announcement, ‘Verily, there is in store for you (everlasting) health. You will never fall ill, and you will live (forever) and never die. You will reamin young and never become destitute.’ (This is explained in) the words of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, ‘And it will be announced to them, “This is the Paradise you have been made to inherit for what you used to do.””
[Muslim, Quranic quote is from Al-A'raf, 7: 43]

Abu Sa’eed (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Death will be brought on the Day of Resurrection in the form of a white – colored ram.” Abu Juraib made the addition, “Then it will be made to stand between Paradise and Hell.” (So far the rest of the hadeeth is concerned, there is perfect agreement between the two narrators.) “It will be said to the people of Paradise. ‘Do you recognize this? They will raise up their necks, look towards it and say, ‘Yes, it is death’ Then a command will be given to slaughter it, and it will be said, “Oh people of Paradise, there is everlasting life for you and no death, Then (Addressing) the people of Hellfire, it is will be said, “Oh people of Hellfire! There is everlasting life for you and no death.” Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) then recited the following verse pointing with his hand to this material world. “Warn them of the day of regret, when their affairs will be decided. They are unmindful, and they do not believe!”
[Muslim, Surah Maryam 19: 39]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“It will be said to the people of Paradise. ‘Oh people of Paradise, eternity for you and no death!’ To the people of the Fire (It will be said), “Oh people of the fire, eternity for you and no death!’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Greatest Thing in Paradise

“Say, ‘Shall I bring your attention to things far better than those? For the righteous are gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath, eternal therein, with pure companions and the good pleasure of Allah. For within Allah’s sight are all His servants – especially those who say, “Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the agony of the Fire.” Those who are patient, are truthful, who worship devoutly, who spend in the way of Allah and who prays for forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours.’”
[ali'-Imran, 3: 15-17]

“Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein eternally and good homes in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the pleasure of Allah is greatest. That is the supreme triumph.”
[Tawbah, 9: 72]

“Those who believe, emigrate and strive with mighty and main in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their persons’ have the highest rank in the weight of Allah. They are the ones who will achieve salvation. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Himself and good pleasure and of gardens for them wherein is lasting enjoyment. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.”
[Tawbah, 9: 20-22]

“Their salutation on the day they meet Him will be ‘Peace!; and He has prepared for them a generous reward.”
[Ahzab, 33: 44]

“Peace!’ a word of salutation from a Lord most Merciful!”
Ya-Sin, 36: 58]

“Some faces that day, will beam in happiness, looking at their Lord.”
[Qiyamah, 75: 22-23]
(This ayah is used as proof by ahl us-Sunnah that the people of Paradise will actually see their Creator).

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Allah will say to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Oh inhabitants of Paradise! They will say, Oh our Lord, we present ourselves and are at Your pleasure, and good ness rests in Your hands.’ Then He will say, ‘Are you contented?’ They will reply, ‘And how should we not be contented, oh Lord, when You have given to us that which You have given to no one else of Your creation?’ Then He will say, ‘Would you not like Me to give you something better than that?’ They will answer, ‘Oh Lord and what thing is better than that?’ He will say, “shall cause My favor to descend upon you and there you shall never be displeased with you.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]

Description of Paradise According to Quran and Sunnah - Part 1.

2007-12-15T20:26:00.000-08:00

The Creation of Paradise

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
"When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying, ‘look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.’ So Gabriel went to it and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. Then Gabriel returned it Allah and said, ‘By Your glory, no one hears of it without entering it.’ So Allah ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship, and He said, ‘Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants! So, Gabriel returned to it and found that it was encompassed by forms of hardship. Then he returned to Allah and said, ‘By Your glory, I fear that no one will enter it, Allah said, ‘Go to Hellfire and look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.’ Gabriel found that it was in layers, one above the other. Then Gabriel returned to Allah and said, ‘By Your glory, no one who hears of it will enter it.’ So Allah ordered that it be encompassed by lusts. Then He said, ‘Return to it and Gabriel returned to it and said, ‘By Your glory, I am frightened that no one will escape from entering it.’
[at-Tirmidhi, abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i]

Masruuq (radiAllahu anhu) said: "We asked Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud about this verse: “And do not regard those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead, rather, they are alive with their Lord and being provided for."
[Surah ali' Imran, 3: 169]

He said, ‘We asked about that and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Their souls are in the insides of green birds, having lanterns suspended from the Throne, roaming freely in Paradise where they please, then taking shelter in those lanterns. Their Lord cast a glance at them and said, ‘Do you wish for anything?’ They said, ‘What shall we wish for when we roam freely in Paradise where we please?’ And He did that with them three times- when they saw that they would not be spared from being asked again, they said, ‘Oh Lord! We would like for You to put our souls back into our bodies so that we might fight for Your sake once again.’ When Allah saw that they were not in need of anything, they were let be.’
[Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, an-Naa'i and Ibn Majah]

The Gates of Paradise

"Gardens of perpetual bliss – they shall enter them as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. And angels shall enter upon them from every gate.”
[Surah al-Rad, 13: 23]

“This is a reminder. Verily, for the righteous is a beautiful place of final return – garden of eternity, whose doors will always be open to them.”
[Surah Saad, 38: 49-50]

“And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds until behold, they arrive there. Its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say, ‘Peace be upon you! Well have you done, so enter it, abiding in it eternally.’”
[Surah Al Zumar, 39: 73]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called ar-Rayyaan, through which none will enter but those who observe fasting.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Whoever spends two things in the way of Allah will be called from the agates of Paradise and will be addressed, ‘O slave of Allah, here is prosperity!’ So whoever was among the people who used to offer their prayers will be called from the gate of the prayer; and whoever was among the people who used to participate in jihad will be called from the gates of jihad; and whoever was among those who used to observe fasts will be called from the gate of ar-Rayyaan; and whoever was among those who used to give in charity will be called from the gate of charity.” Abu Bakr said, ‘Let my parents be sacrificed for you, Oh Allah’s Apostle! No distress or need will befall him who will be called from those gates Will there by anyone who will be called from these gates?” The Prophet (SAW) replied, “Yes. And I hope you will be one of them.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Uqba bin Amir (radiAllahu anhu) said: “We were entrusted with the task of tending the camels – On my turn, when I came back in the evening after grazing them in the pastures, I found Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) stand and address the people. I heard these words of his,
‘If any Muslim performs ablution well, then stands and prays two rak’ahs, setting about them with his heart as well as his face, Paradise will be guaranteed to him.’ I said, ‘What a fine thing this is!’ A narrator who was before me said, ‘The first was even better than this.’ When I cast a glance, I saw that it was Umar who said, ‘I see that you have just come and observed. If anyone among you performs the ablution, completes the ablution well and says, “I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger,” then the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter by whichever of them he wishes.’”
[Muslim]

“The gates of Paradise will be opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant of Allah who associates noting with Allah will be forgiven, except for the man who has a grudge against his brother. About them it will be said, ‘Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled. Delay these two until they are reconciled.’”
[Muslim, Malik and abu Dawud]

Paradise - Never imagined by a Human-being

“Be foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord. And a garden of bliss, the width of the heavens and the earth prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers - that is the grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of abounding grace.”
[Al Hadid, 57:21]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said:
“I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to the human heart. Thus, recite if you wish, ‘And no soul knows what joy has been kept hidden for them.”’
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, and ibn Majah, Surah Al Sajdah, 32: 17]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) narrated Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash is better than the whole world and whatever is in it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Rivers of Paradise

“(Here is)A parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised. In it are rivers of water, incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, delicious to those who drink; and rivers of honey, pure and clear. In it there are for them all kinds of fruits and forgiveness from their Lord. Can those in such bliss be compared to such as shall dwell forever in the Fire? Those whom shall be given boiling water to drink, it will be so hot that it cuts up their bowels to pieces.”
[Surah Muhammad, 47:15]

“As for the righteous, they will be in the midst of gardens and rivers, in and assembly of truth, in the presence of a Sovereign Omnipotent.”
[Surah al-Qamar, 54: 54-55]

“Verily, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. While those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat. The Fire will be their abode.”
[Surah Muhammad, 47: 12]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “The Saihaan, Jaihaan, Euphrates and Nile are all among the rivers of Paradise.”
[Muslim]

The Fountains of Paradise

“The righteous will be amid gardens and springs. (They will be greeted), ‘Enter here in peace and security.’ And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury. (They will be) brothers facing each other on thrones.”
[Surah al-Hijr, 15: 45-47]

“Their thirst will be slaked with pure wine, sealed. The seal will be of musk. For This, let the competitors compete. With it (will be given) a mixture of Tasneem, (highest spring in Paradise), a spring from which those nearest to Allah drink.”
[Surah al-Mutaffifeen, 83: 25-28]

“A fountain there, called Salsabeel.”
[Surah al-Insan, 76: 18]

“Therein will be a flowing spring.”
[Surah al-Ghashiyah, 88: 12]

“In them (each garden) will be two springs, flowing freely.”
[Surah al-Rahman, 55: 50]

“As for the righteous, they shall drink from a cup in which is a mixture of kaafoor (cool and refreshing drink), a fountain from which the righteous servants of Allah drink, causing it to burst forth simply by their will.”
[Surah al-Insan, 76: 5-6]

The Gardens and Trees of Paradise

“Verily, for the righteous there will be attainment of security – gardens enclosed and grapevines.”
[Naba, 78: 31-32] “In them will be two pairs of every fruit.”
[Rahman, 55: 52]

“They will recline on carpets whose linings will be rich brocade. The fruit of the gardens will be hanging near. Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?”
[Rahman, 55: 54-55]

“In them will be fruits and dates and pomegrantes.”
[Rahman, 55: 68]

“The companions of the right hand – what are the companions of the right hand? (They will be) among lot trees without thorns, among talh (bananas) trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another, and in shade long –extend by water flowing (constantly) and fruit abundance whose season is not limited not (supply) forbidden.”
[Waqiah, 56: 27-33]

“And its shades will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit will hang low in compliance).” [al-Insan, 76: 14]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“In Paradise there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider can travel for a hundred years.” (Through another chain of transmitters the following words were added), “He will not be able to cover this distance.”
[Muslim]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“In Paradise there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider can travel for a hundred years. Without covering the distance completely.”
[Muslim]

Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“In Paradise there is a tree under the shadow of which a rider of a fine and swift – footed horse can travel for a hundred years without covering the distance completely. There will be the pleasure of Allah for the inhabitants of Paradise, and he will never be annoyed with them.”
[Muslim]

Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There is a tree in Paradise (which is so large that) if a rider traveled in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There is a tree in Paradise (which is so large that) a rider could travel in its shade for a hundred years. And if you wish, you can recite: “In shade long – extended [Waqi'ah, 56: 30]. A place in Paradise equal to an arrow bow of one of you is better than (the whole earth) on which the sun rises and sets.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Shade of Paradise

“The parable of the Garden which the righteous are promised – beneath it flow rivers. Perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and shade therein. Such is the end of the righteous. The end of the disbelievers is the Fire.”
[Ra’d, 13: 35]

“As for the righteous, they shall be amid shades and springs of water and fruits, all they desire. ‘Eat and drink to your heart’s content because of what you used to do’. Thus do We certainly reward the doers of good.”
[Mursalat, 77: 41-44]

“And its shades will come low over them, and the bunches of fruit will hang low in compliance.”
[Insan, 76: 14]

“They will be among lot trees with thorns talh (bananas) trees with flowers or fruits piled one above another, and in shade long and extended, by water flowing (constantly) and fruit in abundance whose season is not limited nor (supply) forbidden.” (
[Waqi'ah, 56: 28-33]

“They and their spouses will be in (cool) shade, reclining on thrones. (Every) fruit (i.e. enjoyment) will be there for them and they shall have whatever they call for. ‘Peace!’ – a word (of salutation) from a Lord most merciful.’
[Ya-Sin, 36: 56-58]

“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall soon admit to gardens with rivers flowing beneath – abiding there forever. Therein they shall have pure companions. We shall admit them to shades, cool and ever deep.”
[Nisa, 4: 57]

The Atmosphere of Paradise

“Reclining on raised thrones, they will see therein neither (burning) sun nor (freezing) cold.”
[Al Insan, 76: 13]

“Faces that day will be joyful – pleased with their striving – in a garden on high, where they shall hear no bad speech.”
[al-Ghashiyah 88: 8-11] (bad speech equals insult falsehood, harm, immorality, pointless talk, etc.)

“They will say, ‘Praise be to Allah who has removed from us (all) sorrow, for our Lord is indeed oft – forgiving, appreciative, who has settled us in the house of lasting residence out of His bounty. No toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein.’”
[Fatir, 35: 34-35]

The Market of Paradise

Anas bin Malik (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“In Paradise there is a street to which they (the inhabitants of Paradise) will come every Friday. The north wind will blow and will scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes. This will add to their beauty and loveliness. Then they will go back to their family after having an added luster to their beauty and loveliness, and their family will say to them, ‘By Allah, you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us.’ They (the ones who have been scattered with fragrance) will say, ‘By Allah, you have also increased in beauty and loveliness after us.”
[Muslim]

The Bounty of the People of Paradise

“But after them (i.e. prophets and righteous believers) there followed a posterity who neglected prayer and followed after lusts. Soon, then, will they face destruction, except those who repent, believe and work righteousness. These will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least - gardens of eternity, those which (Allah), Most Merciful, has promised to His servants in the Unseen. His promise must come to pass. They will not hear therein any vain discourse, but only salutation of peace. They will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Garden which We give as an inheritance for those of Our servants who are God fearing.”
[Maryam, 19: 59-63]

“He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof. And he that works a righteous deed – whether male or female, and is a believer – such will enter the Garden. Therein they will have provision without measure.”
[Ghafir, 40: 40]

“But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that they will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are provided with fruits there from, they say, ‘Why? This is what we were provided with before,’ for they are given things in resemblance. They have therein pure companions, and they abide therein forever.”
[al-Baqarah, 2: 25]

“But the sincere (and devoted) servants of Allah, for them is a sustenance determined fruits (delights) and, they shall be honored in gardens of felicity.”
[Safat, 37: 40-43]

“That is what you are promised for the Day of Account! Truly, such will be Our bounty (to you). It will never cease.”
[Saad, 38: 53-54]

The Food and Drink of Paradise

“Such will be the Garden which you have inherited because of what you used to do. You shall have therein abundance of fruit from which you shall eat.”
[Zukhruf, 43: 72-73]

“And We shall provide them with fruit and meat, anything they shall desire. They shall exchange with one another a cup free of frivolity, free of sin.”
[Tur, 52: 22-23]

“As for the righteous, (they will be) in a position of security among gardens and springs, dressed in fine silk and in rich brocade, facing each other. And We shall join them to companions with beautiful, big, lustrous eyes. There they can call for every kind of fruit, in peace and security.”
[Dukhan, 44: 51-55]

“Every fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them, and they shall have whatever they call for.”
[Ya-Sin, 36: 57]

“As for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he will say, ‘Ah here! Read my record! I certainly knew that I would be meeting my account!’ so he will be in a life of bliss, in a garden on high, the fruits hanging in bunches (low and near). ‘Eat and drink with full satisfaction because of the good that you sent before you in the days past!”
[Haqqah, 69: 19-24]

“And among them will be circulated vessels of silver and glasses of crystal, - crystal- clear, made of silver which they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes). They will be given a cup in which a mixture of Zanjabeet (ginger) from a fountain called Salsabeel. Around them, youths of perpetual (freshness) will serve. If you see them, you will think they are scattered pearls. When you look there (Paradise), you will see bliss and a magnificent realm. Upon them (people of Paradise) will be green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. ‘Verily this is a reward for you and your endeavor has been appreciated.”
[Insan, 76: 15-22]

“The companions of the right hand – what are the companions of the right hand? (They shall be) among lot trees without thorns, among talh (bananas) trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another, and in shade long – extended, by water flowing (constantly) and fruit in abundance whose season is not limited nor (supply) forbidden. And (they will be) on thrones (of dignity) raised high.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 27-34]

“As for the righteous, they shall be amid (cool) shades and springs (of water) and fruits, all they desire. ‘Eat and drink to your heart’s content because of what you used to do.’ Thus do We certainly reward the doers of good.”
[Mursalat, 77: 41-44]

“As for the righteous they shall drink from a scup in which is a mixture of kaafoor.”
[Insaan, 76: 5]

“Therein will they recline (at ease). Therein they can call (at pleasure) for fruit in abundance and (delicious) drink.”
[Saad, 38: 51]

“As for the righteous, they will be gardens and feel happiness, enjoying what their Lord has given them. And their Lord had (already) prevented them from the penalty of the Fire. (to them it will be said), ‘Eat and drink with satisfaction because of what you used to do.”
[Tur, 52: 17-19]

Abu Sa'eed (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The first meal which the people of Paradise will take will be the caudate (extra) lobe of the liver of a fish.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Vessels and Plates of Paradise

“Around them will circulate eternal youths with goblets, beakers and cups (filled) from clear – flowing fountains –no one will ache will they receive nor will they suffer intoxication.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 17-19]

“To them will be passed dishes and goblets of gold. There will be all that the soul could desire and all that the eyes could delight in, and you shall abide therein eternally.”
[al-Zukhruf, 43: 71]

“And among them will be circulated vessels of silver and glasses of crystal – crystal, clear, and made of silver which they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).”
[al-Insan, 76: 15-16]

“Verily for the righteous there will be attainment of security, gardens enclosed and grape vines, companions of equal age and a cup full to the brim.”
[Naba, 78: 31-34]

The Dwellings of the People of Paradise

“Allah has promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein eternally and good homes in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the pleasure of Allah is greatest. That is the supreme triumph.”
[Tawbah, 9: 72]

“Companions restrained (as to their glances) in pavilions.”
[Rahman, 55: 72]

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The believers, after being saved from the Hellfire, will be stopped at a bridge between Paradise and Hell, and mutual retaliation will be established among them regarding wrongs they have committed in the world against one another. After they are cleansed and purified (through the retaliation), they will be admitted into Paradise. By Him in whose hand Muhammad’s soul is, everyone of them will know his dwelling in Paradise better than he knew his dwelling in this world.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abdullah ibin Qais Al-Ash'ari (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“A tent (in Paradise) is like a hollow pearl which is thirty miles in height. On every corner of the tent the believers will have a family that cannot be seen by the others.” (Narrated abu Imran in another narration,” (The tent is) sixty miles (in height).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

It is reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“While I was asleep, I saw myself in Paradise, and there I beheld a woman making ablution beside a palace. I asked, ‘To whom does this palace belong?’ somebody said, ‘To Umar bin AL-Khattab.’ Then I remembered Umar’s jealousy (concerning women), and so I quickly went away from that palace.” (When Umar heard this from the Prophet (SAW), he wept and said, ‘Do you think it is likely that I feel jealousy because of you, Oh Allah’s Apostle?”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

On the authority of his father, Abu Bakr ibin abu Musa bin Qais (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There will be a tent made of a pearl whose height towards the sky will be sixty miles. In each corner, there will be a family of the believer, out of sight of the others.”
[Muslim]

Abu Bakr ibin Abdullah bin Qais (radiAllahu anhu) reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“In Paradise there will be a tent of a single hollowed pearl, the width of which will be sixty miles from all sides. There will live a family in each corner, and the other will not be able to see the believer who goes around to them.”
[Muslim]

The Thrones of the People of Paradise

“Therein will be thrones raise don high, goblets placed ready, cushions set in rows and rich carpets spread out.”
[Ghashiyah, 88: 31-36]

“Truly, the righteous will be in bliss. On thrones they will command a sight of things. You will recognize in their faces the beaming brightness of bliss.”
[Mutaffifeen, 83: 22-24]

“They will recline with ease on thrones arranged in ranks. We shall join them with companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes.”
[Tur, 52: 20]

“Reclining on raised thrones, they will see therein neither (burning) sun nor (freezing) cold.”
[Insaan, 76: 13]

“They and their spouses will be in cool shade, reclining on thrones.”
Ya-Sin, 36: 56]

“They will be on thrones encrusted with gold and precious stones, reclining on them, facing each other.”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 15-16]

“They will recline on carpets whose linings will be of rich brocade. The fruit of the gardens will be hanging near (and in easy reach).”
[Rahman, 55: 54]

“But on this day the believers will laugh at the unbelievers. On thrones they will command a sight of all things. Are the unbelievers not rewarded finally for what they used to do?”
[Mutaffifeen, 83: 34-36]

The Reception of the People of Paradise

“And those who feared their Lord will be led to the Garden in crowds, until behold, they arrive there. Its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say, ‘Peace be upon you! Well have you done, so enter it, abiding in it eternally.”
[Zumar, 39: 73]

“Gardens of perpetual bliss – they shall enter them as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring. Angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation), ‘Peace unto you for what you endured in patience! Now, how excellent is the final home!”
[Ra'd, 13: 23-24]

“But those who believed and worked righteousness will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow to dwell therein forever by permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace!”
[Ibrahim, 14: 23]

“Their salutation on the day they met Him will be ‘Peace!’; and He has prepared for them a generous reward.”
[Ahzaab, 33: 44]

“No frivolity will they hear therein nor anything sinful – only the saying, ‘Peace! Peace!”
[Waqi'ah, 56: 25-26]

“Every fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them, and they shall have whatever they call for. ‘Peace!’ a word (of salutation) from a Lord most Merciful!”
[Ya-Sin, 36: 57-58]

“Certainly, those who believe and work righteousness – their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss. Their prayer therein will be, ‘Subhaanak Allahumma’ (Glory be to You Oh Allah!’), and their greeting therein will be, ‘Salam’ (Peace). And the last day of their prayers will be, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
[Yunus, 10: 9-10]

The People of Paradise

“You will recognize in their faces the beaming brightness of bliss.”
Mutaffifeen, 83: 24]

“Some faces, that day, will beam (in happiness), looking at their Lord!”
[Qiyamah, 75: 22-23]

“The righteous will be amid gardens and springs. (They will be greeted), ‘Enter here in peace and security.’ And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury. (They will be) brothers facing each other on thrones. There no sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be evicted.”
[Hijr, 15: 45-48]

“Faces that day will be joyful – pleased with their striving – in a garden on high, where they shall hear no bad speech.”
[Ghashiyah, 88: 8-11]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created Adam in His own image with his length being sixty cubits. As He created him, He told him to greet that group (a party of angels sitting there) and listen to the response that they gave him, for it would form his greeting and that of his offspring. He then went away and said, ‘Peace be upon you!’ They (the angels) said, “May there be peace upon you and the mercy of Allah.” So all those who enter Paradise will be in the form of Adam, his length being sixty cubits. Then the people who followed him continued to diminish in size up to now.”
[Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“There will enter Paradise people whose hearts will be like those of the hearts of the birds.”
[Muslim]
(This hadith beautifully sums up the qualities of the people of Paradise, just as the hearts of birds are free from every tint of jealousy, in the same way the hearts of the people of Paradise will e free from jealousy, rancor, deceit, and hatred. Secondly, just as birds are always alert and cautious of any danger, in the same way the hearts of the people of Paradise will also be wakeful. Thirdly, trust as the birds trust in Allah for their food, in the same way the people of Paradise will have complete trust in Allah regarding their sustenance, rather, their very existence.)
[Commentary of Abdul Hamid Siddiqi]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Seventy thousand or seven hundred thousand of my followers (the narrator is in doubt as to the correct number) will enter Paradise holding each other till the first and the last of them enter Paradise at the same time. Their faces will have a glitter like that of the moon at night when it is full.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Sahl bin Sa’d (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Verily, 70,000 or 700,000 of my followers will enter Paradise altogether so that the first and the last of them will enter at the same time. Their faces will be a glittering like the bright full moon.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering like the full moon, and the batch next to them will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. Their hearts will be as the heart of a single man, for they will have neither enmity nor jealousy among themselves. Everyone will have two wives from the hooris (who will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that) the marrow of the bones of their legs will be seen through the bones and the flesh.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be glittering like the moon when it is full. They will not spit or blow their noses or relieve nature. Their utensils will be of gold and their cups of gold and silver. In their censors, the aloe wood will be used, and their sweat will smell like musk. Everyone of them will have no enmity among themselves. Everyone of them shall have two wives. The marrow of the bones of the wives ‘legs will be seen through the flesh because of excessive beauty. They (the people of Paradise) will be neither have differences nor hatred among themselves. HTier hearts will be as one heart, and they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and in the evening.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“The first batch (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like a full moon, and those who will enter next will be glittering like the brightest star. Their hearts will be like the heart of a single man, for they will have two wives, each of whom will be so beautiful, pure and transparent that the marrow of the bones of their legs will be see through the flesh, they will be glorifying Allah in the morning and evening. They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit. Their utensils will be of gold and silver and their cups will be of gold. The matte used in their censors will be the aloe wood, and their sweat will smell like musk.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“Paradise and Hellfire disputed together and Hellfire said, ‘In me are the mighty and haughty.’ Paradise said, ‘In me are the weak and the poor.’ So Allah judged between them (saying), ‘You are Paradise, My mercy. Through you and I show mercy to those I wish. And you are Hellfire, My punishment. Through you I punish those I wish, and it is incumbent upon Me that each of you shall have its full.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]

Harithah ibin Wahb (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“May I tell you who the dwellers of Paradise are? (They are) every person who is considered weak and is despised, and who if he takes an oath of reliance upon Allah, will fulfill it. Now may I tell you who the people destined for Hell are? (they are) everyone who is ignorant, impertinent, proud and arrogant.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Continued: Description of Paradise According to Quran and Sunnah - Part 2

Who Created Allah (swt)? [Reply 2]

2007-12-09T20:59:00.000-08:00

Consider the question: "Who created Allah?" The first premise underlying the question is that every thing (or being) known to exist in the world was created. The second premise is that Allah is known to exist in the world. So the conclusion is that Allah also was created...right?

Wrong, In fact, there are problems with the second premise as well as the conclusion. The point is that Allah does not exist in the world unlike material objects or physical beings. Allah's existence transcends the world of space and time, as it is He Who has created not only all the objects and beings of the world, but also all the laws of space and time governing material and temporal existence.

In other words, Allah is beyond the limits and constraints of space and time and so He is not subject to the physical rules and norms that determine the nature of things and beings in the visible world.

We can view the issue from another angle. If everything in the universe needs a cause, then Allah also needs a cause.

It is important to note here that everything in the universe has a beginning; it is because of this that everything needs a cause, whereas Allah does not have a beginning and He does not need a cause.

Einstein has shown that time is the fourth dimension contiguous with space. In other words, we live in a world that is a space-time continuum.

And as Allah is the Creator of time as well as space, He is not limited either by space or time, so He has no beginning in time. Therefore, He does not have a cause.

Also, there is enough evidence that the universe had a beginning. This can be shown from the laws of thermodynamics, the most fundamental laws of the physical sciences.

Now the question is: Is it possible to have a universe with a beginning, but without a cause?

The answer is obviously in the negative for the following reasons:

It is self-evident that things that begin have a cause. Indeed, no science is possible without the law of cause and effect, and the study of history would not make sense if causes do not lead to effects. What is more is that we cannot hold the absurd logical position that the universe created itself, because nothing comes out of nothing!

In short, to the question, "Who created Allah?" we can give this answer: By definition, Allah is the First Cause and the Uncreated Creator of all. For everything to exist or begin to be, a Ground of Being is necessary, and Allah is the Ground of Being. So without Allah, nothing can be, nothing is possible. So the question "Who created Allah?" is nonsensical; it takes us nowhere; it is a meaningless question somewhat like "What is the color of music?"

The second question you quoted is as illogical as the first one: "Can Allah create something He cannot destroy?" Or, it can be put this way: "Can Allah make a rock too big for Him to lift?"

There are many variations to this question, but they all present the same dilemma. If Allah cannot make a rock too big for Him to lift, then it proves that Allah is not all-powerful because there is something He cannot do. If Allah can create a rock that is too big for Him to lift, again it proves that He is not all-powerful because He cannot lift the rock!

Or as you put it, if Allah cannot create something that He cannot destroy, He is not Omnipotent. If He can create something that He cannot destroy, then again He is not Omnipotent!

Indeed, the question here is one of logical impossibility: Can an omnipotent God do anything and everything, including what is logically impossible?

Many religious people may think so; for them this is what omnipotence amounts to. Some Christians may quote the Bible:

With God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)

and they maintain that we should never say, "God cannot do this or that."

There are people who say that God could bring about even logical impossibilities, such as creating a square circle. This alone is enough for us to reject any view that implies an absurdity. For example, can we assume at this moment, at this place that it is both day and night at the same time?

If we say "yes," obviously we are trashing logic and reason. We should be wise enough to accept the reliability of reason and logic here as elsewhere. Proper understanding and communication rest on the principle of non-contradiction — that no statement is both true and false at the same time. What could it mean if we are told that not only can God create logical impossibilities but also cannot create them?

If we do not presuppose the principle of non-contradiction in our discussions, it is difficult to understand what we were saying and what we mean to say. Therefore, accepting the principle of non-contradiction is crucial to any meaningful discussion. Further, it is hard to make sense of a God to whom the principle of non-contradiction does not apply.

The question above represents what we may call a false dilemma. It is based on a false premise, where people assume Allah's omnipotence to mean that Allah can do anything. But as a matter of fact, since Allah is Perfect there are things Allah cannot do because they imply some sort of imperfection. For example, He cannot lie, err, sin, or die because these actions are contrary to His nature. So, Allah will never act in a way that is contrary to who He is.

ReadingIslam

Saudi - Rape Victim is Lashed, the Real Truth

2007-12-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Recently, the fervently anti-Islamic and secularist newspaper, Arab News, published an article claiming that a rape victim was punished with lashes in Saudi Arabia. The news was immediately picked up by the Western media outlets, including BBC News, and soon the issue became an international affair. The enemies of Islam used this news report as a means to disparage the Muslims by claiming that Islamic law was unjust and barbaric. The heretics (i.e. the Rawaafidh) used the incident as a means to fan the flames of sectarianism, lashing out at the Sunnis of Saudi Arabia, referring to them as “Wahabis”. And sadly, many Muslims themselves fell into the trap and believed the lies levied against the Saudi judges (who are Ulema).

Allah Almighty warns the Muslims:

“O you who believe, if a wicked evildoer comes to you with a news report, look carefully into it to verify the truth, lest you harm a people in ignorance and afterwards feel remorseful for what you have done.”

(Quran, 49:6)

In the time of the Messenger of Allah, the infidels used to spread lies and slander about the Messenger, and they would propagate false news reports in order to create dissension and discord amongst the ranks of the believers. Allah Almighty revealed the above verse so that the Muslims would be cautious of such reports and so that they would prevent the seeds of suspicion from entering into their hearts. Today, the enemies of Islam continue their crusade against Islam, with the Western media at the forefront of the ideological assault on Islam. The Western media has consistently proven itself to be deceitful, biased, and outright wicked; as such, whenever we Muslims hear anything from them, then we should take it with a grain of salt.

The truth is that the media has slandered the good character of the Islamic judges in Saudi Arabia. The entire case has been hyped up and taken dramatically out of context by the West and the lovers of the West (i.e. the secularists within our own ranks). In this article, we shall–with the Help of Allah Almighty–reveal the hidden facts about the case and thereby exonerate Islam from the charges levied against it by the forces of Taghoot.

The Penalty for Rape in Islam

No other religion besides Islam has ever placed such a large emphasis on the protection of women. It is known that the early Muslims even raised an army to bring to justice those who raped a woman; such was the attitude of the Muslims towards the heinous crime of rape. In one of the Prophetic traditions, we read:

…A woman, in the life of the Messenger of Allah, [left her home] intending to go for Prayer [in the mosque] when a man seized her and had sexual intercourse with her, while she let out a scream [for help]. The man fled, and she told a man what had occurred. A group from amongst the Muhaajireen (i.e. the first group of Muslims) were told of this and they chased the man down eventually capturing who they thought it was, and took the man to her. She said that it was the man who did it to her. They took the man to the Messenger of Allah, and asked “who is the man who did this to her”? The man confessed saying, “I am the one who did this to her, O Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet Muhammad said to the woman, “You can leave, for Allah has forgiven you (i.e. absolved you of all sin)!” The Prophet said to the man, “Your words are sound.” So he said regarding the man who had raped her, “Stone him.”

[Hadith reported by Abu Dawood in his Sunan and Imam at-Tirmidhi in his Sunan, in the chapter “What is said regarding the woman that has been coerced into committing fornication”]

So the one who says that Islam lets rapists go free is a liar, because the Prophet himself sentenced the rapist to stoning. Likewise, the one who claims that rape victims get punished in Islam is also a liar, because the Prophet exonerated victims of all blame, and this 1,400 years ago when it used to be common to blame the woman for such things!

In Islamic Law, the minimum punishment for rape is either stoning (if the perpetrator is married) or one hundred lashes and banishment for one year (if the perpetrator is not married). On top of this, the rapist is to pay a penalty fee in the form of the Mahr. And if the rape involved violence and the threat of weapons, then the rapists can be exiled from the land, have one hand along with one foot cut off, crucified, or killed.

The Saudi based fatwa site, Islam-qa, explains the Islamic Law:

Question:

What is the ruling on the crime of rape in Islam?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The Arabic word ightisaab refers to taking something wrongfully by force. It is now used exclusively to refer to transgression against the honour of women by force (rape).

This is an abhorrent crime that is forbidden in all religions and in the minds of all wise people and those who are possessed of sound human nature. All earthly systems and laws regard this action as abhorrent and impose the strictest penalties on it, except a few states which waive the punishment if the rapist marries his victim! This is indicative of a distorted mind let alone a lack of religious commitment on the part of those who challenge Allaah in making laws. We do not know of any love or compassion that could exist between the aggressor and his victim, especially since the pain of rape cannot be erased with the passage of time – as it is said. Hence many victims of rape have attempted to commit suicide and many of them have succeeded. The failure of these marriages is proven and they are accompanied by nothing but humiliation and suffering for the woman.

Islam has a clear stance which states that this repugnant action is haraam (forbidden) and imposes a deterrent punishment on the one who commits it…The punishment for rape in Islam is same as the punishment for zina, which is stoning if the perpetrator is married, and one hundred lashes and banishment for one year if he is not married.

Some scholars also say that he is required to pay a mahr to the woman.

…The rapist is subject to the hadd punishment (stoning or lashes) for zina, even if the rape was not carried out at knife-point or gun-point. If the use of a weapon was threatened, then he is a muhaarib, and is to be subjected to the hadd punishment described in the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The recompense of those who wage war against Allaah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter”

[al-Maaidah 5:33]

So the judge has the choice of the four punishments mentioned in this verse, and may choose whichever he thinks is most suitable to attain the objective, which is to spread peace and security in society, and ward off evildoers and aggressors.

And Allaah knows best.

www.islamqa.com

It should be noted that this website is maintained by the same group (i.e. the Saudi Ulema) who are judges in Saudi Arabia. This refutes those who claim that the Saudi judges let rapists go; rather, the penalties for rape in Saudi Arabia (and under the Islamic Law) are far stricter than what happens in the West. Whereas rapists are routinely executed under Islamic Law, we find that–according to the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Justice Statistics)–convicted rapists in America serve only an average of about ten years behind bars. (source) In England, the matter is even worse, with rapists serving an average sentence of less than four years. (source) Sandy Brindley, national coordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “People will be shocked to find out the average sentence for a rapist is five and a half years. They could be out after only three years–and that is concerning.” (source)

As for the victim, then Islam says that she is not to be blamed in any way at all. Imam Malik, one of the four greatest jurists of Islam, said:

“The punishment is to be carried out on the rapist and there is no punishment for the woman who has been raped, whatever the case.”

(Al-Muwatta’, 2/734)

Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, one of the classical Islamic scholars, said:

“There is no punishment for the woman if it is true that he forced her and overpowered her, which may be proven by her screaming and shouting for help (and the like).”

(Al-Istidhkaar, 7/146)

The Qatif Case

Now that we have reviewed the Islamic Law on such a matter, let us examine the case which has created such an outcry. The truth is that the media has suppressed most of the facts, twisting the story in such a way with the simple intent of maligning the good image of Islam.

It should be noted that the Qatif girl was having an affair on her husband, and this is what she was punished for.

BBC News says

“The woman was initially to be punished for violating strict gender segregation laws in Saudi Arabia, for riding in the car of a man who was not related to her when they were both attacked.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7112999.stm”

The liars at BBC have endeavored to make it seem as if the woman was simply punished for being in a car of a man; what a boldfaced lie! By this lie, the Western media has made it appear as if the Muslims would punish someone for such a seemingly menial crime. And yet, they have hidden the greatest fact of all, which is that the woman was having an illicit affair on her husband, and at the time of the alleged rape, she was in the car of the man with whom she was having an affair with! The Qatif adulteress confessed to having an affair on her husband, and this is all in her sworn testimony.

Anonymous says

“What do you mean by adultery? Are you accusing the woman of having sex?
”

In this article, when we use the word “affair” and “adultery” then we are not referring to the actual sex act (i.e. penetration), but we use these words in the more general sense. The words such as “Zinnah”, “adulterous”, and “affair” are commonly used to refer to any relationship that threatens the marital oaths. Therefore, we consider the woman to be adulterous who sends nude photos of herself to men that are not her husband, has flirtatious chats with them on the internet, secretly meets up with them behind her husband’s back, etc. These crimes may not deserve the Hadd punishment, but they are deserving of the Ta’zeer punishment. To clarify, we cite the following fatwa:

Question:

Is zinaa intercourse only?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Zinaa, in Arabic, means immorality, and is used with two meanings in shar’: a general meaning and a specific meaning.

The general meaning includes that which carries the punishment (hadd) and that which does not carry it. Islam does not give the name of zinaa only to that which carries the punishment, which is just one of many types of zinaa. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “I have never heard any better definition of ‘small faults’ [al-Najm 53:32] than that which Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): ‘Allaah has decreed for every son of Adam his share of zinaa, and there is no way to escape from it. The zinaa of the eye is a glance, the zinaa of the tongue is speaking, and the zinaa of the mind is wishing and hoping; then the private part either acts upon this or it does not.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 11/26; Muslim, 4/2046).

Al-Bukhaari included this hadeeth in a chapter entitled Baab zinaa al-jawaarih doon al-farj (Chapter on the zinaa of faculties other than the private part).

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Zinaa is not always associated with the private part itself, but may involve other faculties such as the eyes and so on.” Ibn Battaal (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Looking and speaking are called zinaa because they lead to real zinaa. This is why he said that the private part either acts upon this or it does not”

www.islam-qa.com

Anonymous says

“Are you sure that she was having an illegal sexual affair with another man? This is a very serious charge and what if you are wrong? Do you want to be held responsible for this on the Day of Judgment? Do you not remember the incident of al-Ifk in which certain Muslims were spreading lies that a woman was an adulteress?
”

We ourselves do not make any judgment on the woman, but rather it is up to the courts to decide the innocence or guilt of a person. The Qatif woman was tried in a court of law and found guilty of Zinnah (in the general sense of the word). She is a convicted Zaani (adulterer). Of course, with any crime, whether it is Zinnah or murder or theft, it is possible that a person is convicted mistakenly. However, this is not relevant to the discussion at hand; the question is: should a convicted adulterer be punished according to the Islamic Law? The bottom line point is that the Qatif woman was convicted of Zinnah and then she was sentenced based on that. This is a completely different scenario than the incident of al-Ifk; the Prophet’s wife (may Allah be pleased with her) was never found guilty of Zinnah in a court of law. Rather, she was found innocent of all charges. If there are merely rumors about a woman committing Zinnah, then of course it is wrong to spread such tales. But if a woman is found guilty in a court of law, then this is a different situation altogether. This is the same with all crimes; it is wrong to accuse anyone of anything if he has not been found guilty in a court of law.

Because she was convicted in a court of law, there is a basis for saying that the Qatif woman was committing Zinnah in the general sense, if not the specific one. The Western media has tried to galvanize its readers by claiming that a woman is to be whipped in Saudi Arabia simply for sitting in a car with a man. This is deliberate obfuscation of the truth. It is like saying that a man divorced his wife just because she chatted on the internet. This sounds astonishingly fickle of the man to do this, but if one were to elaborate and say that his wife was chatting with a man with whom she was carrying out an illegal affair with, then nobody would be surprised that her husband divorced her for this. Likewise, when the media declares that a woman was punished simply for being in the car of a man, then this makes the Saudis seem barbaric. But when we elaborate and say that the Saudis punished a woman for being in a parked car with a man she was having an illicit affair with, then suddenly this does not seem so outrageous any more.

We Muslims are not like the Westerners who are–with a few exceptions–immoral fornicators and adulterers. Even though their own religious book condemns such things, they themselves are a society which revels in these things. Famous Western researchers, such as Alfred Kinsey and Glass & Wright, found that adultery occurs in 50-80% of all American marriages! And this propensity of Westerners to betray their spouses is one of the causes for their skyrocketing divorce rates and their broken home syndrome. Al-Hamdu Lillah, our Muslim children are obedient to their parents, and they are not rebellious like the Western children; and who can blame their children for acting that way when their parents are immoral fornicators and adulterers? We can open up their own Bible to point to verses in which God Almighty threatens damnation upon such nations as the people of Sodom; and this will be the end of the Western nations because they have slipped into a state of moral decadence and depravity.

Christian says

“Whipping and stoning, the punishments of you Muslims, is barbaric!
”

The Westerners claim that Islam is barbaric for allowing such penalties as stoning and whipping, and yet we find the exact same punishment in their own Bible! We read:

“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death.”

(Bible; Lev.20:10, Ezk.16:40, Jn.8:3)

And:

“If a damsel who is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband, and (another) man finds her in the city and lies with her, then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones, that they die — the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city, and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor’s wife; so thou shalt put away evil from among you.”

(Bible; Deuteronomy 22:23-24)

Is it not strange that the Christians do not take issue with their own Bible, but then create an outcry when we Muslims enforce similar punishments on convicted fornicators and adulterers? In the Qatif case, a woman was betrothed unto a husband, and she was having an affair on him with another man. The Bible, a book that the Christians claim came from God and something that we Muslims also hold to be true, commands death on such people. Therefore, we find that the Westerners have no right to accuse Islam of anything, because it is found in their own books.

The Woman Confessed to Having an Affair

The woman herself confessed to having an affair with that man who was in the car. Even BBC News was forced to report this fact:

Saudi justice officials say a woman who was sentenced to prison and flogging after she was gang-raped has now confessed to an extramarital affair…

It (the Saudi justice ministry) insisted the ruling was legal and that the woman had “confessed to doing what God has forbidden”.

…“The Saudi justice minister expressed his regret about the media reports over the role of the woman in this case which put out false information and wrongly defend her,” the statement said.

“The charged girl is a married woman who confessed to having an affair with the man she was caught with.”

BBC News

What happened on that night of the alleged rape was that the woman went out in the cover of the night to to the corniche to meet her lover. A group of men saw her get into the parked car at that spot. It was this group of men that followed her to the car, and according to the men, they caught her naked and being intimate with her lover.

The woman did not admit to having sex with her lover, but she did admit to be carrying out an affair which went on for many long months. The two lovers admitted to the authorities that they were having an illicit relationship with each other, and this is in their signed and attested confessions. On top of this, the Saudi authorities had proof of the affair in the form of telephone calls, picture exchanges, and other such supporting evidences.

With this evidence against the woman, it was impossible not to punish her under the Islamic Law; and this is not only Islamic Law, but rather it is God’s Law, as found in both the Quran (the Final Testament) as well as the previous scriptures such as the Bible.

It is dishonest to state that she was punished simply for being in the car of a man; rather she was punished for being in the car of a man with whom she was having an affair with. There are degrees of “intermingling of the sexes”, and the Islamic Law would differ on the punishment depending on the situation. It is incorrect to claim that women are whipped in Saudi Arabia simply for being in a car with stranger men; the author himself has been to Saudi Arabia and knows that this is not the case, and if it were, then there would be similar cases every day! Indeed, if a couple is found dating in Saudi Arabia, then they are given warnings and told to go away by the religious police, or their parents are notified and warned. As such, it is a blatant lie and manipulation to claim that the Qatif woman was lashed for simply being in the car with another man. Rather, she was charged with Zinnah, and we all know what happens in parked cars.

We read:

New Ministry Statement on Qatif Case

JEDDAH, 25 November 2007 — The [Saudi] Ministry of Justice issued a statement yesterday providing more details regarding the charges against a 19-year-old woman who was gang-raped by seven men in Qatif.

The statement, which the ministry says is a response to media scrutiny of the ruling, said that the rape victim confessed to having an illegal affair with the man who was caught with her.

“She went out with him without a mahram, a legal guardian, and exchanged forbidden affairs through the illegal khalwa,” the statement said. “They both confessed to doing what God forbids.”

The ministry said: “The first verdict of 90 lashes was made according to Shariah. The woman and her husband were convinced and agreed to it on 10/10/1427.”

…The ministry also claimed that the woman violated the sanctity of marriage.

“She knows that ‘khalwa’ with an unrelated man is forbidden by Shariah and by doing this she has broken the sacred matrimonial contract,” the statement said.

“The woman mentioned in her signed confession that she called from her husband’s house using her cell phone asking for a forbidden ‘khalwa’ in front of a shopping center,” the statement said.

…The ministry claimed the woman was “in a state of indecency, having thrown off her clothes” and the two were abducted in a “dark side of the (Qatif) corniche” by the attackers after they saw the couple in this alleged state of indecency.

Arab News

How deceitful is the Western media: they used flashy headlines such as “rape victim gets lashes” instead of “woman convicted of adultery gets lashes”!

Male is Lashed

The enemies of Islam seek to portray our beautiful religion as sexist, claiming that we discriminate against women. To back this claim, they claim that it is unfair how the Qatif woman received ninety lashes whereas the group of men who allegedly raped her received jail-time only. This argument is completely refuted by the fact (and the hidden truth) that the woman’s lover received the same punishment:

The woman’s companion was sentenced to 90 lashes.

BBC News

How it is that the liars are exposed for their lies against Islam! How can one claim sexism in this case when the man and woman were both charged with the exact same sentence? And it is well-known that–under the Islamic Law–the punishment for rape is the same for men and women, so how then can anyone claim sexism?

The Men Accused of Rape

Now that we have clarified the punishment of the woman, let us move onto the issue of the men accused of rape, who were sentenced with a few months to five years in prison. The enemies of Islam and the hypocrites ask: “Why is it that the rapists were given such lenient sentences?” Actually, some of the men were sentenced up to ten years (not five) and this is the same as the average sentence given to rapists in America! And it is double the average sentence of rapists in places like England, Scotland, etc. In any case, the reason that the men were not executed under Islamic Law was that there was simply a lack of evidence to charge them with the crime of rape.

The group of men deny raping her. According to them, they caught the Qatif woman in the car with her clothes off. They caught the two lovers in the act, and she was–by her own admission–fearful that the men would inform her husband of her betrayal. This is where the story differs between the woman and the group of men. The woman claims that the men proceeded to gang-rape her. On the other hand, the men claim that she offered herself to them, in exchange for their promise to keep quiet on her affair. And the men claim that they refused her offer.

What really hurt the woman’s case is that she did not go to the police after the alleged rape. In fact, she did not report the case at all, and she remained silent about it for three months. Eventually what happened was that three months later, her husband was sent an anonymous email declaring that his wife had cheated on him on that day, having sex with many men at the corniche. The husband then confronted his wife about the matter, and she confessed to it but told him that she was raped by those men and that it was not consensual. This is when the husband notified the authorities and the case against the group of men was filed.

We read:

The statement [by the Saudi Ministry] claimed that the two victims of the gang rape hid the incident for three months until an e-mail was sent to the woman’s betrothed “informing him what happened to his wife, and her betrayal.”

Arab News

This fact considerably weakened the woman’s case: any woman would claim coercion when her indiscretions were caught by her husband! And this was three months after the event. Even in America, it is important for a rape victim to report the crime within twenty-fours, so that important medical tests can be done to prove that it was a case of rape and not consensual sex. This medical test would document defensive wounds on the hands and nails, wounding of the genitalia, sperm stains, DNA evidence, and the like. Without this evidence, it is impossible–even in the United States–to prove rape. In fact, when the Qatif woman’s husband finally reported the crime three months after the event, the Saudi authorities asked her to have some medical tests done in order to gather evidence to support her case, but she herself refused because she knew that so much time had passed that any evidence was long gone.

It is very difficult to prove rape without any medical evidence of force, or any witnesses to the scene of the crime. It becomes a matter of her word against his. What could prevent an angry ex from accusing her former boyfriend of raping her many months ago? The group of men accused of rape deny raping the Qatif woman. They claim that she offered herself to them in exchange for promises of silence; however, none of the men admitted to accepting her offer. A few of the men admitted to witnessing the rape, but none of them admitted to the actual rape. It became a circular accusation, whereby each man claimed innocence and put the blame on the other men. As such, it became impossible to tell which of the men were guilty and which were innocent.

The problem of convicting rapists is not limited to the Muslim world, but rather it is a worldwide dilemma, and this is due to the very nature of rape. It is very difficult to prove coercion. This is a problem experienced by American women as well:

Rape

For women, rape might appear to be an open and shut case; if we do not consent to sex, a rape has been committed. Unfortunately, it is not this simple in the courts. Rape is often very difficult to prove. The lack of consent is one element of proving a rape, but in many states, this is not enough to prove that a rape has occurred.

The common law definition of rape is “sexual intercourse achieved by force or threat of force without consent of the victim”. By requiring force or the threat of force, the legal system perpetuates the myth that a rapist is a strange man who jumps from behind the bushes at night. In addition, when there is a force or threat of force requirement, non-physical or non-imminent threats are not enough to prove a rape. As if this does not make proving rape difficult enough, many states also require the proof of “reasonable resistance” on the part of the rape victim.

With the current rules in many jurisdictions, it is difficult for women in an abusive relationship to prove rape because 1) the abuse might be emotional so there might not be physical force or 2) the fear and submission to sex might be due to past violence and not a contemporaneous threat. For example, in State v. Alston, a woman broke off an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. The woman saw her abusive ex-boyfriend some time much later and they had sex. Even though the ex-boyfriend did not physically force the woman to have sex, there was implicit threat of force due to past incidents. A lower court convicted the man but he appealed and a higher court reversed the conviction due to a lack of physical force.

Another complexity with the force or threat of physical force requirement is that courts distinguish between offers and threats. The difference might seem clear, an offer makes you better off and a threat makes you worse off. However, sometimes the difference is murky and two cases, demonstrate this. In Thompson, a higher court reversed the conviction of a high school principal who told a female senior that she would not graduate unless she “slept” with him. The senior had sex with the principal in order to graduate. According to the higher court, the principal did not threaten the young woman, he offered her something, and that was not sufficient to constitute a rape.

Similarly, in Commonwealth v. Mlinarich, a higher court reversed the conviction of a man who had custody of a teenage girl who had previously been in a juvenile detention facility. The man told the girl that he would return her to the facility if she did not have sex with him. She complied. Even though the man was initially convicted, he appealed and the higher court said that he made the child an offer and did not threaten her. Luckily some states have abolished the threat and reasonable resistance requirements, but they are in the minority.

WomenMatter.org

Not a single one of the men admitted to having sex with the Qatif woman, let alone admitting to raping her. As such, it turned into her word against theirs. Without any medical evidence or witnesses to back up her claim, how could the judges sentence a group of men to death? The difficulty in securing rape convictions is a problem not only in Muslim countries but also Western ones. BBC News said in another one of its articles that only 5.6% of alleged rapists were ever convicted by the law:

Rape convictions hit record low

The percentage of reported rapes to lead to convictions in England and Wales has fallen to an all-time low, according to a Home Office study.

The number of rapes reported is rising - but only 5.6% of 11,766 reports in 2002 led to a rapist being convicted.

BBC News

The Indiana Daily says:

Campus rape reports outweigh arrests 43 to 1
Authorities say use of force is difficult to prove

…Rapes often go unpunished because it’s difficult for authorities to prove an offender used force.

…Once women do come forward and report, the next issue police face is having enough proof to take the case to court. The main reason so few men are arrested lies with the difficulty of proving force in a courtroom, Slone said.

…Collecting evidence remains another problem in attempting to prosecute. Police often don’t find out about the crime until much later, Slone said, losing the timely opportunity to collect physical evidence, often bodily fluids. After about 72 hours, that evidence deteriorates, she said, making it nearly impossible to prove.

Slone emphasized that women can have the evidence taken at the hospital, which is referred to as a rape kit, without actually reporting the crime to the police. By putting that evidence in what she refers to as the “evidence refrigerator,” victims can take their time to decide if they want to press charges. Without physical evidence, Slone said, the case becomes a “he said, she said” issue.

“Many cases that we see, the women do not want to go so far as to go to court with it,” Slone said. “To point the finger and say ‘You did this thing to me.’ It’s really difficult. Particularly if they know the guy may serve prison time. … Are they going to bring this guy to prison for X amount of years based on her word?”

Indiana Daily Student News

The American police officer, Sgt. Leslie Slone, says that after 72 hours the evidence for rape disappears and it becomes virtually impossible to prove rape after that. And yet, in the Qatif case, over three months had passed, so are we surprised then when the Saudi courts could not convict the men on charges of rape?

The Qatif woman was caught telling many lies both to the court and to the media; she betrayed her husband and lied to him, etc. So how could the single testimony of an immoral liar and self-confessed adulteress be enough to send nine men to death? Truly it would be a strange country that would send nine men to death without any proof except the single testimony of one woman who has proven herself to be unreliable.

Why Was the Woman’s Punishment Doubled?

In the United States, the media becomes the judge, jury, and executioner. It is well-known in the legal community that high profile cases are won before they even get to the courts; whatever version the media wishes to portray will become the dominant story. This is called “spin” in legal parlance. Under Islamic Law, however, the manipulation of cases is not allowed. In Saudi Arabia, it is not permitted to use the media to manipulate the justice system. If the judges allowed the Qatif woman to do that, then this would become the norm in Saudi Arabia, like it is in America.

The Qatif woman fed a story to the media, covering up important facts such as her affair, and she did all of this in an attempt to put pressure on the courts through the media. Not only this, but she contacted Western media outlets which in turn fired up anti-Islamic leaders who further put pressure on the King of Saudi Arabia to overturn the decision. This Qatif woman betrayed the Muslim Ummah; she made a mockery of Islamic Law, helping to portray it as unjust and barbaric. And for this, her sentence was doubled, and rightfully so. Not only did she commit a crime, but she betrayed her Ummah and made a mockery of Islam, selling her deceitful story to the major media outlets.

However, it should be noted that it was not only her punishment which was doubled, but also the punishment of the men. The punishment of the men was raised in order to remove doubts that bias was being shown against the woman, and also because of the dangerous nature of the crime.

Why Was Her Lawyer to be Disbarred?

Abdul-Rahman al-Lahem, the woman’s lawyer, is being portrayed as some sort of human rights hero. In fact, he is a traitor to Islam, and the West loves to raise in rank those who betray Islam. Just recently, Salman Rushdie was knighted by the Queen of England, simply because he was a traitor to the Muslims. This is a part of the enmity that still resides in the hearts of the descendants of the Crusaders. Abdul-Rahman used to be a pious Muslim but then he abandoned that course in order to become a secularist, and that is why he will become the sweetheart of the West.

In any case, Abdul-Rahman violated the law and ethics by seeking to manipulate the media in order to put pressure on the justice system. And this is why he should be disbarred. So we condemn him (verbally) based on his religious treachery and we ask him to be disbarred (legally) based on his unethical manipulations of the justice system.

Anonymous says

“ If the woman was found guilty of adultery, then why was she not sentenced to death as per Islamic Law? Where in the Shar’iah is there a punishment of ninety lashes? Either she is to be stoned to death or she is not to be punished, but lashing does not make any sense and has no basis in Islamic Law.
”

The one who makes such an argument is in fact not capable of expounding Islamic Law, since he does not even know the very basics of Shari’ah. Such a person is reeking of ignorance and has made a complete buffoon of himself! The punishment of death by stoning is one of the Hadd punishments, and it is awarded to only those who complete the sexual act (i.e. penetration). However, for anything less than that, the judges can levy Ta’zeer punishment on the culprit. The Qatif woman admitted to having an illicit relationship with her lover and cheating on her husband, but she did not admit to engaging in the sexual act (i.e. penetration). As such, she cannot be awarded the Hadd punishment since there was no proof of penetration, but because she admitted to lesser than that (i.e. an illicit affair), she should be punished for that. Obviously, the punishment for lesser than that would be a lesser punishment, and this is why she was given lashes instead of death. Under Saudi law, whatever falls short of the sexual act (such as kissing, necking, fondling, foreplay, etc) is still a punishable offense as stipulated in their penal code, and this has basis in Islamic Law.

Had the Qatif woman admitted to engaging in the sexual act, then she would have been given the Hadd punishment; but because she did not, she was punished for what she did admit to (i.e. Ta’zeer). It is the Rawaafidh who have voiced their discontent the most, and we have heard many of them complain that this woman should not have been punished since she did not admit to the actual sex act; yet it should be known that these Rawaafidh are being dishonest, because even in their religion do they believe in Ta’zeer! In Iran, youngsters are routinely punished for ‘intermingling’ with the opposite sex, by which we mean kissing, necking, fondling, foreplay, etc. Maybe these Rawaafidh should go to the streets of Tehran and do these things to see how the Iranian police and justice system react!

Anonymous says

“ You say that there is no evidence that the men committed rape, but we have the confessions of the men themselves!
”

None of the men admitted to engaging in the rape themselves. However, during the interrogation, some of the men admitted to having been witnesses to the rape. In other words, all of the men denied that they themselves were a part of the rape, but some of them pointed the finger at others. During the trial, however, these men claimed that they were coerced by the police into “naming names”; it is known that forced confessions have no merit. Under Islamic Law, when a man retracts his confession, then this is enough Shubha (doubt) to weaken its validity in court.

Because the woman failed to report the crime except after three months when her husband found out about her betrayal–and because she refused to take any medical tests–there was no evidence against the men. All that the prosecutor had against them was the accusation of the woman and their confessions against each other. And yet, both the accusation and the confessions had serious problems. The accusation by the woman was tainted by the fact that the men countered her accusation by claiming that she was only trying to cover up her betrayal of her husband; according to them, she was willing to have sex with all of them, and she wanted to cover this up from her husband, lest he think of her as promiscuous and loose. She only made these claims of rape after her husband was notified about her betrayal, and before that, she did not utter a single word to the authorities. The men argued that any woman would claim rape if her husband found out about her betrayal.

Unfortunately, the woman weakened her case substantially by failing to notify the authorities except after her betrayal was exposed by her husband. She was engaged in dubious activities, and such a person’s testimony could not possibly be used to send a group of men to their death. It is known that she lied to her husband when she left her house on that day, and before that as well when she used to call her lover, and that she lied to her husband many times after the incident for three months, and she was caught in many lies and inconsistencies during the court proceedings, and she even lied to the media; as such, the reality is that a liar’s testimony in court is seriously called into question.

The Western media has tried to single out Saudi Arabia, but the reality is that cases like this are tried all the time in America. Oftentimes the only witnesses in drug cases are other criminals; when these criminals testify against the drug dealers, then they serve as very weak witnesses, because the jury is not inclined to believe a criminal’s testimony. If a prostitute witnessed a rape or was herself raped, then she would serve as a very weak witness due to her dubious character, and this is a fact in many trials in the United States! It may be that adulterers are not seen as anything evil in the West, yet to the upright Muslims, a fornicator and adulteress is a very weak witness by virtue of her dubious character. It is not proper that fourteen families lose their sons based on the singular testimony of an adulterous, immoral, dubious, and lying woman.

As for the confessions of the men, then these too were problematic, because none of the men admitted to anything themselves. Instead they pointed the fingers at others, and they claimed that these confessions were forced by the police; the men had been led to believe that if they gave up their own friends then their own punishment could be warded off or at least lessened. So we see that the accusation by the woman and the confessions by the men could not be called impartial, since each benefited from them in some way. Furthermore, the accusation by the accuser cannot stand as proof in court, which goes without saying; and under Islamic Law, retracted and/or forced confessions cannot be used.

The truth is that the woman could not bring forth any proof because she destroyed all such proof by failing to report the crime on time. And she failed to do this because of her own indecencies. It may sound morbid to say, but it is simply the truth. It is similar to the man who robs a bank and is then assaulted by another robber; he cannot report the assault to the police because it will reveal his crime of robbery. Likewise, the Qatif woman could not go to the police about her rape because at that very moment she had been engaging in an illicit affair with a man that was not her husband. It is sad, but it is a reality; and it is one of the very reasons that we should not violate the law or live outside of it, because then we may forfeit many of our rights within that law. That woman had the right to be protected under the law, but she herself willingly forfeited that right in order to cover up her crime.

Anonymous says

“ The woman did not admit to having an affair! She said she was not involved with that man, but rather she was involved with that man prior to marriage and he had a compromising photo of her. He had threatened to show that nude photo to her current husband unless she agreed to meet him at that spot of the corniche. She had agreed to the meeting only as a means to retrieve the photo.
”

The Qatif woman has lied; the Saudi ministry of justice has clearly stated that she admitted to having an illicit affair:

“The woman in the case is married and has confessed to establishing a relationship in violation of [Islamic] sharia law,” the Saudi justice ministry said in a statement.

Al-Jazeera News

And:

On Saturday the Saudi justice ministry said the rape victim was a married woman who allegedly confessed to cheating on her husband.

It said she and her lover had met in his car for a tryst “in a dark place where they stayed for a while”.

Al-Jazeera News

It is amazing that the hypocrites would believe an adulterous woman above that of an entire ministry, but this is the state of their extreme bias whereby they would believe in anything so long as it helps them malign the so-called “Wahabis.” The woman’s claims that she went only to retrieve a photo contradict the reality, because she admitted in the court that she met her lover twice in the same month, once during the first days of Shawwal and another time on that fateful Thursday. Therefore, this does not seem like some sort of emergency meeting for her to take back photos, but rather it seems like an ongoing affair. Furthermore, this has been confirmed by incoming and outgoing phone calls, as well as picture exchanges that had taken place between the woman and her lover. The Qatif woman had sent sexually explicit photos of herself to her lover. We know of only one reason why people do this, i.e. to entice lovers and invigorate their carnal desires!

The woman claimed she was raped “after she had gone to retrieve a photograph of herself from a high school friend after just getting married.” (Al-Jazeera News) So why had she sent a compromising photo of herself to that man in the first place? Is this fact not enough to prove that she was involved in an illicit affair with a man she was not married to? Sending nude photos to others is a crime under Islamic Law; does anybody disagree with us on this? If the stubborn hypocrites would contest this fact with us, then do they think it is permissible for a woman to pose for nude pictures and distribute them? This is called pornography and surely this is haram (forbidden) under Islamic Law! The fact that this woman sent a compromising photo of herself to a man who is not her husband is enough to charge her with indecent acts, which justifies her punishment of lashing.

Anonymous says

“ Perhaps she did not give the photo of herself to that man willingly, and she was extorted into it.
”

How in the world would she get into such a situation? On what basis did the man somehow force her to send nude photos of herself? If the woman replies that he was using her illicit premarital affair with him as a means to get a photo from her, then once again she has admitted to guilt under the Shari’ah and she would be punished for a relationship outside of marriage!

What if the woman had been caught in the sex act? Would she then defend herself by saying that the man had extorted her into that, by threatening to release the photos? Let us imagine a similar scenario in which a man is caught by police whilst trying to rob a bank. When the man is apprehended, he says: “I was forced into robbing the bank by another man who had a picture of me having sex with another woman, and I was fearful that this man would show it to my wife.” Would the police suddenly let the robber go? Surely the law does not validate such justifications, otherwise no crime could be punishable! Every single person would claim that he or she was coerced into it. The fact is that the robber was caught at the scene of the crime, just as Qatif woman placed herself in a parked car with another man in a dark and isolated spot.

Even if we believe her story about being extorted, the court cannot simply waive off her crime. If this were the case, then no single case of adultery could ever be brought to the courts, because every defendant would claim that “I didn’t want to do such-and-such sexual act with my lover, but he promised to expose me to my husband about our relationship, so I did it.” The truth is that if the Qatif woman had never done anything wrong with the lover in the first place, then he could never have extorted her; he was only able to extort her due to her crime with him. If this were not the case, how did she get herself into such a compromising and vulnerable position? If she had been a completely chaste Muslim woman, then she would have been completely loyal to her husband and would have never been involved with the other man at all. But instead she was involved with that man, and–according to her–that man was able to extort her based on this illicit relationship which she either was currently in or had in the past. Either way, she was in some sort of illegal affair punishable by the Shari’ah.

We have to remember that the Saudi judges are acting in accordance to the law, not their personal sentiments. If a crime was committed, then they must punish it according to the law.

Anonymous says

“ The woman was gang-raped…is this not enough of a punishment for any crime on her part?
”

Unfortunately, the law does not work in this manner. Let us imagine the scenario in which a black man is robbing a bank, and whilst he is doing that, a racist white Ku Klux Klan member catches him and roughs up the black man. In this case, would the law excuse the black man for robbery, on the basis that he already got what he deserved (or worse) from the white man? We find that this is not the case even in the United States of America; the black man would still be punished under the law for his crime of robbery. Meanwhile, the white man would be charged for assault and a hate crime. The two punishments would be handed down separately and independent of each other. One crime does not cancel out another crime. This would create a state of chaos, anarchy, and vigilante justice.

In the Western countries, we find that if a woman murders a rapist or a child kidnapper, then that woman is still tried for murder. Yes, we all sympathize with that woman because we understand her emotions, but nonetheless, the law cannot excuse her for the crime of murder. If the law began to excuse crimes based on justifications, then this would open Pandora’s box. The rule of law would disappear and all criminals could claim that their crimes were either justified by the law or that they had already received due punishment in the outside world. Can we imagine a court excusing a man for robbery simply because another crime had been committed against the robber? Or perhaps because the robber’s son died in a car accident? Could not a lawyer argue that it is not right to jail a man for robbery when he already lost his son “which is punishment enough”? Surely this is a very dangerous and inappropriate line of reasoning. Each crime must be dealt with individually.

If a woman robs a bank and she is raped during the heist, would the court absolve her of the crime of robbery? The reality is that the Westerners and the hypocrites do not think of fornication as a crime like robbery, and this is why they are unable to see the parallel! But truly theft is a minor crime compared to adultery, and this is what the believers hold to be true. The problem is that the Westerners come from a nation of fornicators and adulterers, so they in their minds trivialize the crime of adultery. If a woman commits a crime, then she will be punished for that crime; if a crime is done to her, then the men who did that crime will be punished. But one crime does not cancel out the other, nor do they have any relation to each other. Each will be dealt with separately and independently.

This is not an emotional matter which the judges can simply change because the ruling does not sit well with the people. This is rather a matter of Fiqh (jurisprudence): two crimes were alleged, and each was judged according to the law. The woman was found guilty for her crime because of her confession in court, and the men were not found guilty because of lack of evidence. (And we remind the reader that nobody can claim sexism since the Qatif woman’s extramarital lover, a man, was also given the same sentence of lashing!)

Anonymous says

“ You say that there was no evidence to convict the men with rape, but they were convicted of rape! Why else were they given jail-time!
”

The men were not found guilty of Zinnah, but rather some of them had admitted to witnessing Zinnah. Therefore, the men were found guilty of engaging in dubious activities, but it was difficult to secure a rape conviction due to a lack of evidence and contradictory statements made by the accuser. When there is not enough evidence to secure a Hadd punishment, then Ta’zeer punishment can be meted out based on the level of involvement in a crime.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the alleged rapists were given a sentence of ten years imprisonment which is the average sentence given to convicted rapists in America and double what the average sentence is in many European countries such as England and Scotland! So why is it then that the Westerners are complaining that the alleged rapists were not punished severely enough when their convicted rapists routinely get less than that? Could it possibly be that they are dishonest in their intentions, and that they only seek to attack Islam under the guise of human rights? They claim to be human rights activists, but the truth is that they are crusaders who seek to destroy Islam.

Abeer Mishkhas of Arab News says

“ To add to all of the above, we know that the girl’s husband has supported her throughout her ordeal and this says volumes about who has the right to be upset about her meeting another man.
”

In the Islamic Law (as well as in the Judeo-Christian tradition), there is no condition that adultery is not to be punished simply because the spouse forgives! Therefore, the opinion of the husband cannot ward off the punishment. To give another example, we do not ward off the penalty for rape just because the woman forgives the rapist. When someone breaches a law, then the state punishes the individual, not the aggrieved party. As such, the aggrieved party cannot ward off the penalty either.

In the West, some married couples have what is called an “open relationship” whereby they allow their spouses to sleep around with multiple partners. And yet, such people are to be punished by the law despite the fact that their acts have been “forgiven” by their spouse. Surely Allah Almighty is the one who forgives such crimes, not any human being. Once the case has been registered, then it must go to trial and litigated to its end.

Anonymous says

“ She was not in khulwah when she was abducted, nor was she in some isolated place, but rather she was next to a public shopping mall where there were many people passing by…
”

This is a lie. If they were in a public place where “many people [were] passing by”, then how is it that she was abducted without people seeing that? By definition it must have been a secluded place, because she was hiding from her husband, nobody witnessed the incident, etc. In any case, there is no need for speculation because the Saudi ministry refuted this claim by declaring that the Qatif woman had been in a parked car “in a dark place where they stayed for a while”.

Conclusion

The Qatif case is a Fiqhi (jurisprudential) matter, and the judges followed the letter of the law and there is no blame on them. The manner in which some people are attacking the judges is completely inappropriate, and it stems from the media which has waged an ideological war against Islam. Unfortunately many Muslims have fallen into the trap and they have parroted the accusations of the enemies of Islam. Indeed, these Muslims should realize that they are allying themselves with a people who seek to diminish the Islamic Law. We as Muslims should hold firm and think the best of the judges who were appointed to uphold the Shari’ah.

The Westerners imply that whipping and stoning are barbaric practices, yet we find the same punishments mentioned in their own holy book (i.e. the Bible)! And they seek to decriminalize fornication and adultery, even though their own holy book says to kill the one who does such things. And this is because they have a disease in their hearts by which they disbelieve in God’s Laws even though they claim to be believers; and they come from a morally corrupt society like the people of Sodom which were destroyed by God. How could they uphold God’s Laws which are in their own Bible when ninety-five percent of them have committed either fornication or adultery sometime in their lives? Is such a society capable of passing moral judgments on us Muslims? We Muslims are the moral ones, who abstain from sexual crimes and uphold God’s Laws which are even in their own Christian books.

As for the woman accused of adultery and the men accused of rape, then it should be known that these are two separate issues that must be dealt with individually and independently. The woman confessed to the crime of having an illicit relationship and as such there is no question about her guilt. Even if we believe her story about retrieving a photograph, then this in itself is evidence of a crime: sending nude or semi-nude pictures is a crime in any God-fearing country. As for the alleged rape, then the woman failed to report the crime except after three months by which time all evidence had been lost. We have shown how even the Western authorities admit that it is nearly impossible to prove rape after seventy-two hours have passed. Therefore it is no surprise that after three months there was no evidence to convict the men with. The men cannot be hanged based on public sentiment alone. They cannot be hanged by the media, but rather they should be tried by the objective judiciary. The media, run by enemies of the Islamic Shari’ah, cannot be trusted with this case; the Western public views this incident in a highly emotional manner without knowing the facts, and they wish to lynch the men (i.e. mob justice).

The woman may have been raped, and if she was, then we know that Allah Almighty will punish the rapists in the next life. Allah Almighty knows all and sees all, and in the Court of the Lord each criminal will pay for his sin. But in the court of man, we can only judge men on the evidence which is apparent to us, and we cannot look inside the hearts like Allah. Therefore, if the men did rape the woman, then they have been given lenience only for a short time, and then Allah will deal with them. If, however, they were innocent, then Allah knows that too. We ask Allah to curse all rapists whoever and wherever they may be, the known and the hidden.

We close with these words:

Clearly, in many criminal events there are no clear-cut victims and criminals, quite often both sides are guilty. Saudi law clearly criminalises unchaperoned one-on-one contact, as a public safety measure, designed to prevent the occurrence of exactly this kind of situation. Saudi Arabia must be congratulated for their low crime rate. Scurrilous attacks on the judiciary such as the one committed by the alleged victim are deserving of punishment.

(Mike, Sacramento, USA; as posted on the BBC website)

The irony is that the Qatif case is being used to attack the Islamic Law. And yet, this incident only underscores the importance of the divinely inspired Shari’ah. Oftentimes the people ask why it is that Islam has such strict laws against women being alone in cars and secluded places with unrelated men. This is exactly the reason, so that such things do not happen. No woman deserves to be raped, and we do not say that any woman deserves it, nor is it a part of our faith to claim this. Yet, we say that women should remain vigilant and adhere to the Islamic Laws, refraining from dubious activities, and if they do this, then it is much less likely that they would ever place themselves in such a compromising position. Had the Qatif woman not engaged in sinful activities like sending illicit pictures of herself, and had she been one hundred percent loyal and honest to her husband, then she would never have been there on that day and none of this would have happened. And even if it had happened somehow, then she would not have feared going to the authorities and her rapists could have been punished severely. Instead, due to her betrayal, she placed herself in the jaws of evil, and she was unable to cry for help.

The entire Qatif incident is very unfortunate, and it is unclear the level of guilt or innocence of the woman and the alleged assailants. However, the judges did the best they could, given the scenario and the evidence presented to them. Either the involved Ulema will get one or two rewards for their Ijtihad. We seek refuge from those Taghoot who use this incident as a means to attack the sacred Shar’iah, as well as those whose only aim is to increase sectarian tension.

May Allah Almighty unite our hearts upon the path of Islam.

What Is Islam?

2007-12-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

Can we find an explanation of the great universe? Is there any convincing interpretation of the secret of existence? We realize that no family can function properly without a responsible head, that no city can prosperously exist without sound administration, and that no state can survive without a leader of some kind. We also realize that nothing comes into being on its own. Moreover, we observe that the universe exists and functions in the most orderly manner, and that it has survived for hundreds of thousand of years. Can we then say that all this is accidental and haphazard? Can we attribute the existence of man and the whole world to mere chance.

Man represents only a very small portion of the great universe. And if he can make plans and appreciate the merits of planning, then his own existence and the survival of the universe must also be a planned policy. This means that there is an extraordinary power to bring things into being and keep them moving in order. In the world then must be a great force in action to keep everything in order. In the beautiful nature there must be a Great creator who creates the most charming pieces of art produces every thing for a special purpose in life. The deeply enlightened people recognize this creator and call him Allah "God". He is not a man because no man can create or make another man. He is not an animal, nor he is a plant. He is neither an Idol nor is He a statue of any kind because non of these things can make itself or create anything else. He is different from all these things because he is the maker and keeper of them all. The maker of anything must be different from and greater than things which he makes.

There are various ways to know God "ALLAH'' and there are many things to tell about him. The great wonders and impressive marvels of the world are like open books in which we can read about God. Besides, God Himself comes to our aid through the many Messengers and revelations He has sent down to man. These Messengers and revelations tell us everything we need to know about God.

The complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God 'Allah' as revealed to His Messengers Muhammad is the religion of Islam. Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of Allah, which makes man aware of meaningfulness of the Universe and of his place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of man's obligations towards Him. This faith must be expressed and tested in actions, faith alone is not enough. Belief in one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the universal Omnipotence of God the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam rejects the idea of chosen people, making belief in God and good actions the only way to heaven. Thus, a direct relationship in established with God, without any intercessor.

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all Prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, David, Moses and Jesus (PBUT). But the message which was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.

The Quran is the last revealed word of Allah and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. The Quran deals with the basis of creeds, morality, history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-man relationship, and human relationship in all aspects. Comprehensive teaching on which, can be built sound systems of social justice, economics, politics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations, are important contents of the Quran. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), meticulously reported and collected by his devoted companions. Explained and elaborated the Quranic verses.

THE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH IN ISLAM

The true faithful Muslim believes in the following Principal articles of faith:-
1. He believes in One God 'Allah', Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider.

2. He believes in all Messengers of God without any discrimination among them. Every known nation had a warner or Messenger from God. They were chosen by God to teach mankind and deliver His divine message. The Quran mentions the name of twenty five of them. Among them Mohammad stands as the last Messenger and the crowning glory of the foundation of Prophethood.

3. Muslin believes in all scriptures and revelations of God. They were the guiding light which the Messengers received to show their respected peoples the Right Path of God. In the Quran a special reference is made to the books of Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. But long before the revelations has been lost or corrupted. The only authentic and complete book of God in existence in the Quran.

4. The true Muslim believes in the Angels of Allah. They are purely spiritual and splendid beings whose nature requires on food, drink or sleep. They spend their days and nights in the worship of God.

5. Muslim believes in the last Day of Judgement. This world will come to an end someday, and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. People with good records will be generously, rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Heaven of Allah, and those with bad records will be punished and cast into Hell.

6. Muslim believes in the timeless knowledge of God and His power to plan and execute His planes and nothing could happen in His Kingdom against His will. His knowledge and power are in action at all times and command over His creation. He is wise and merciful, and whatever He does must have a meaningful purpose. If this is established in our mind and hearts, we should accept with good faith all that He does, although we may fail to under stand it fully, or think it is bad.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
Faith without actions arid practice is a dead end, as far as Islam is concerned. Faith by nature is very sensitive and can be most effective. When it is not out of practice or out of use, it quickly loses its liveliness and motivation power.
There are five pillars of Islam:

1. The declaration of faith: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad (PBUH) is His Messenger to all human beings till the Day of Judgment. The Prophethood of Mohammad obliges the Muslims to follow, His exemplary life as a model.

2. Prayers: Daily, prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong - doings and evil.

3. Zakkah: The literal and simple meaning of Zakkah is purity. The technical meaning of this word designates the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. But the religious and spiritual significance of Zakkah is much deeper and more lively. So it has humanitarian and sociopolitical values.

4. Fasting the month of Ramadan. The Muslims during the month of Ramadan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset but also sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and will - Power.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): It is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically.

Tareekh At-Tabari - How Reliable is it?

2007-12-02T17:17:00.000-08:00

The following reply was directed towards the Shia, however, it is a great reply to those who post 'verses' from Tabari to ridicule Islam.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

Tareekh at-Tabari was a voluminous text compiled by Imam Ibn Jarir at-Tabari (may Allah be pleased with him). Imam at-Tabari followed the classic methodology of early Islamic historians, a process which differed greatly from modern day historical writers. Islamic historians would simply compile all the known narrations about a certain event, regardless of how authentic or reliable each of those narrations were. They would copy the Isnads (chains of transmitters) into their books, in order that the Muhaditheen (scholars of Hadith) could determine which narration was Sahih/Hasan (authentic/good) and which was Dhaeef (weak) or even Mawdoo (fabricated). In other words, the historians compiled the narrations, and the Muhaditheen authenticated them.
Therefore, based on the above, we find that Tareekh at-Tabari is simply a collection of narrations on certain events; some of these narrations are accurate, whereas others are not. The authenticity of each narration depends on the Isnad (chain of transmitters): if the narration was transmitted by reliable narrators, then it would be accepted as valid, but if it was transmitted by unreliable people, then the narration was to be disregarded. As such, we find that it is ignorant of the enemies of Islam that they assume that we Sunnis accept every narration in Tareekh at-Tabari as valid, when in fact this is not the case nor has any Sunni scholar ever accepted this–not even Imam at-Tabari himself! Imam at-Tabari clearly says in the introduction of his book that the narrations found in his book are only as good as the people who narrate them. If the compiler of the book does not view all of the narrations as authentic, then it is indeed absurd for the Shia to assume that we accept each and every single narration in Tareekh at-Tabari. Tabari says in a disclaimer in the introduction of his book:

I shall likewise mention those (narrators) who came after them, giving additional information about them. I do this so that it can be clarified whose transmission (of traditions) is praised and whose information is transmitted, whose transmission is to be rejected and whose transmission is to be disregarded…The reader should know that with respect to all I have mentioned and made it a condition to set down in this book of mine, I rely upon traditions and reports which have been transmitted and which I attribute to their transmitters. I rely only very rarely upon (my own) rationality and internal thought processes. For no knowledge of the history of men of the past and of recent men and events is attainable by those who were not able to observe them and did not live in their time, except through information and transmission produced by informants and transmitters. This knowledge cannot be brought out by reason or produced by internal thought processes. This book of mine may contain some information mentioned by me on the authority of certain men of the past, which the reader may disapprove of and the listener may find detestable, because he can find nothing sound and no real meaning in it. In such cases, he should know that it is not my fault that such information comes to him, but the fault of someone who transmitted it to me. I have merely reported it as it was reported to me.

(Tareekh at-Tabari, Vol.1, Introduction)

Imam at-Tabari’s book was simply an attempt to place Hadiths into a chronological order so that they would read out like a historical narrative; therefore, Tabari–like Ibn Ishaq–did a wonderful job of creating one of the first books which placed Hadiths in a chronological order. However, Imam at-Tabari only placed them in the right order, but he did not authenticate them, nor did he claim that. It should be known that to the Sunnis, the only two books of Hadith which are considered completely authentic are the Sahihayn (Bukhari and Muslim). After these two books, there are four other books which are considered reliable, but which contain some authentic and some unauthentic Hadiths. As for Tareekh at-Tabari, it is considered less reliable than any of these six books of Hadith! Tareekh at-Tabari is not even a book of Hadith, but it is lower than that: it is a book of history, and as is well-known, the scholars of Hadith would criticize the historians for their lack of scruples when it came to using weak narrations.

Therefore, it is not at all surprising that Tareekh at-Tabari would contain some narrations that the Shia would use against us; this was a consequence of Imam at-Tabari’s decision to compile both Sunni and Shia narrations, without commenting on their authenticity. Of course, the accusations against Imam at-Tabari that he was a Shia Rafidhi were one hundred percent incorrect; there is no doubt that Imam at-Tabari was a very respectable Imam of the Sunnis. He merely included Shia narrations/narrators based on the tradition of Islamic historians to simply compile Hadiths and to leave the authenticating to the Muhaditheen. So while we do not question the “Sunni-ness” of Imam at-Tabari, we bring up the point that people accused him of being a Shia Rafidhi to prove that the narrations found in Tareekh at-Tabari were never accepted by the mainstream Muslims as being one hundred percent authentic, and whoever would claim such a thing is a liar. The Shia narrations found in Tareekh at-Tabari were rejected back then, as they are now.

Not only did Imam at-Tabari include Shia narrations in his book, but he also included Christian and Zoroastrian accounts. This was in line with his belief of compiling a “balanced” book that would document all the various accounts from a variety of segments of the society. It is for this reason that some of the narrations in his book with regards to the story of Creation are not in line with the Islamic belief. Indeed, as we have stated repeatedly, not all the narrations in Tareekh at-Tabari can be accepted.

The Shia are allied with the other enemies of Islam when they use weak narrations in Tareekh at-Tabari in order to attack the mainstream Muslims. It was, after all, Salman Rushdie who used a narration in Tareekh at-Tabari to prove the story of the “Satanic verses.” And yet, we know that even though this narration is found in Tareekh at-Tabari, it is unauthentic as mentioned by Ibn Katheer and others.

To conclude, we say as Ibn Katheer said:

In these volumes, he [Tabari] reported the various narrations as they were transmitted and by whom. His discussion is a mixed bag of valuable and worthless, sound and unsound information. This is in keeping with the custom of many Hadith scholars who merely report the information they have on a subject and make no distinction between what is sound and what is weak.

(Ibn Katheer, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol.5, p.208)

As for the narration in Tareekh at-Tabari that the questioner mentioned, it is undoubtedly unauthentic. We will expound on this in a later article, Insha-Allah.

And Allah is the Source of all Strength

Short Biographies of the Prophet's Wives

2007-11-28T02:52:00.000-08:00

The wives of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, hold a special place in Islamic piety. The Quran calls them “Mothers of the Faithful” (Quran 33:6). They were his wives in this life and shall be in the life to come. They were young and old, widows and virgins, poor and wealthy, aristocrats and freed slaves. Each one played their specific role in forming the history of Islam.

Khadeejah

Prophet Muhammad married her when he was twenty-five, while she had reached the age of forty. She was a widow, twice married. He was at the peak of his youth. Impressed by Muhammad’s honesty and moral character, she send a relative to propose marriage. They were married for twenty five years until her death. Through every persecution, Khadeejah was his sole companion and helper. Khadeejah, along with Aisha, played a major contribution in the establishment and spread of the Islamic civilization. Khadeejah bore four daughters with the Prophet: Zainab, Umm Kulthoom, Ruqayya, and Fatima. All four grew to maturity and accepted Islam. They all died in the lifetime of their father, except Fatima who died six months after the Prophet. Khadeejah also bore two sons, Qasim and Abdullah, both of whom died at an early age.

Sawdah

Months after the death of Khadeejah, the Prophet had returned from an unsuccessful mission in Taif, helpless and persecuted. At this time he married Sawdah, another widow, who possessed neither beauty, nor social status, nor wealth. She had been forced to escape to Abyssinia with her husband from the persecution of pagan Meccans to find some security. Her husband died in exile, giving his life for the sake of his faith. He had migrated with his wife from his home for the cause of his religion, and he left her in utter poverty. Driven by a sense of generosity, the Prophet of Mercy married her, raising her to the spiritual level of “Mother of the Faithful.” The Prophet did not marry another woman for the first three years of his Marriage to Sawdah. She died a few years after the death of Prophet Muhammad.

Aishah

Aishah was the daughter of one of the closest companions of Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr. An old friend of the Prophet, Abu Bakr was one of the earliest converts to the faith and was considered to be the most sincere, earnest, and devoted in faith. Seeing the loss of the Prophet, one of the woman companions proposed Abu Bakr’s daughter to him and approached Abu Bakr on behalf of the Prophet. But there were two problems. One, Aishah was already betrothed to Jubair bin Mut’im, a pagan Meccan. Jubair, it turned out, had lost interest because of the wide gulf between paganism and Islam. In addition, Aishah had not yet reached puberty, and this also contributed to Jubair’s disinterest in pursuing the betrothal. Thus, she was betrothed to the Prophet while still in Mecca, and three years later, when both were in Medina and she had reached puberty, he consummated his marriage. She was the only virgin he married, though they did not have any children. Aishah was a leading scholar of Islam and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Islamic civilization. She taught for forty years after the death of the Prophet until her death at the age of sixty-seven.

Hafsah

Hafsah was the daughter of Umar, the man closest to Prophet Muhammad after Abu Bakr. She migrated with her husband to Medina, but was left a widow after the Battle of Badr. With a fiery temper like her father, she had remained without a husband ever since. Umar first asked Abu Bakr, and then Uthman, to marry her, but each refused in turn, much to his ire. This shows the unavailability of marriageable males at the time. At last, Umar approached Prophet Muhammad. The marriage took place in the third year after migration. The Prophet divorced her once, but was commanded by God to take her back. She was charged with keeping the official copy of the Quran during the caliphate of Abu Bakr and Umar. She passed away four years after the Prophet.

Zainab

In the same year, the third year after migration, the Prophet married Zainab, made a widow after the Battle of Uhud. Her kindness to the poor had earned her the nickname of “mother of the destitute.” She was past the prime of her life and when she was wed by him, and she died a few months after their marriage. She is the only wife beside Khadeejah who passed away in the Prophet’s lifetime.

Umm Salama

A year later, the Prophet married another widow who had suffered persecution, at one time losing the custody of her children to her pagan in-laws. After the Battle of Uhud, she was left a widow with four children. Abu Bakr first proposed to her, but she refused because she did not think anyone could be patient with her children. Finally, the Prophet proposed, assuring her the children would be taken care of; Prophet Muhammad married Umm Salama because of this noble motivation. The faithful loved their Prophet all the more and honored him as the Prophet of God. They saw in him a father to the destitute, the deprived, the weak, and the poor as well as to everyone who had lost his father in the cause of God. Umm Salama was the last wife of the Prophet to die. She passed away forty nine years after his death at the age of eighty-four.

Umm Habeebah

Umm Habeebah was the Muslim daughter of Islam’s archenemy, Abu Sufyan. Umm Habeebah was one of the early coverts to Islam in Mecca. She had migrated with her husband to Abyssinia who converted to Christianity over there. On his death, the Prophet sent a proposal to her while she was still in Abyssinia. She returned to Medina three years before the death of the Prophet. She passed away thirty four years after the Prophet.

Zainab, the Divorced Wife of Zaid

Zainab was the cousin of the Prophet, who was married to Zaid, an orphan slave whom the Prophet liberated and then adopted. The Prophet proposed the marriage of Zainab with Zaid to her brother, but he refused to let his sister, a noble girl of Hashimite and Quraishite ancestry and the first cousin of the Prophet, become the wife of a former slave. Such a union was regarded by the Arabs as a thing of great shame. For the daughters of the aristocracy to marry their slaves, even freed slaves, was unthinkable. The Prophet sought to wipe out racial and class distinctions between men. He was to educate the world that no Arab is superior to any non-Arab unless it be in virtue and piety, as God had said,

“…Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the most god-fearing…” (Quran 49:13)

The Prophet did not choose to force this principle on a woman outside his own tribe. It was his cousin Zainab who, in complying with the Prophet’s wishes for Zaid, willingly opposed the Arabian custom. And Zaid, an orphan under his care, was the person of too low a lineage for marriage into Meccan aristocracy in her family’s eyes. Thus, the Prophet encouraged Zainab to agree to marry Zaid, and, when Zainab agreed, insisted that her brother accept the adopted orphan as a brother-in-law.

However, after the marriage, Zaid found it hard to live with her. Zaid consulted the Prophet who advised him not to divorce her. Never-the less, once all attempts to work out the marriage had failed, divorce was the only alternative left. After the divorce, she and her relatives insisted that the Prophet marry her. Feeling bound to meet their wishes after a failed marriage that he had arranged, the Prophet was hesitant. The pagan custom allowed marrying step-mothers and mothers-in-law, but looked upon the marriage of the divorced wife of an adopted son as unacceptable. To undo the custom and to set an example, God commanded the hesitant Prophet to marry Zainab. Their marriage took place in 5 A.H. She died ten years after the Prophet.

Juwairiyah

In the same year, a large number of prisoners fell into the hands of Muslims at the Battle of Bani Mustaliq. Among them was Juwairiyah, the daughter of an Arab chief, who approached the Prophet with a ransom for herself to which her captor readily agreed. The Prophet then proposed marrying her, and she, in turn, accepted. As soon as the Muslims heard the news of the marriage, they released their prisoners from the tribe of Banu Mustaliq. They felt they could not keep a tribe honored by the Prophet in captivity, so some one hundred families from the tribe of Banu Mustaliq were freed as a blessing of her marriage with the Prophet. Juwairiyah was one devoted to worship. Once, the Prophet passed by her and found her busy in worship in the mosque. The Prophet passed by her again during late in the afternoon and found her still in the mosque, whereupon he commented,

“You are still in your state (of worship)?”

She responded, “Yes.”

“Should I not teach you some words greater in reward! Say, ‘How perfect is God, I praise Him by the number of His creation and His pleasure, and by the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His Words.’”[1]

She died some forty years after the Prophet.

Safiyyah

Safiyyah, daughter of a Jewish chief of Banu Nadheer, was taken as a prisoner in the Battle of Khaibar in the year 7 A.H. The Prophet liberated and then married her. Upon marriage, the Prophet found marks of abuse on her cheek about which he was curious.

She explained, “I saw a dream in which the full moon rose over Medina and fell in my lap. I told the dream to my cousin who slapped me and said, ‘You want to marry the king of Medina!’ This mark is from his slap.”

When the Prophet was on his deathbed, she wept and said, ‘I wish I could be in your place, O Messenger of God,’ to which he replied, “She means what she says.”

Maimoonah

Maimoomah, another widow, requested marriage to Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, in Mecca in 7 A.H. She was from his tribe and was already over fifty. Prophet Muhammad married her in order to support her, a poor relative of his. Her nephew, Ibn Abbas, who later became the greatest scholar of the Quran, learned much from her knowledge.

Islamic Shield Site Map

2007-11-28T01:46:00.000-08:00

Allah (swt)
Who is Allah (swt)?
Why is God called Allah?
Who created Allah (swt)? [Reply 2]
Who Created Allah (swt)?
Why Does Allah (swt) refer to Himself as 'We/He'?
Is Allah (swt) Forgiving or Revengeful?
Satanic Verses / Daughters of God?
Moon God?

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)
Muslims Worship Mohammad (pbuh)?
Prophet Mohammad's Marriages
Short Biographies of the Prophet's Wives
A Muslim is allowed to marry 4 wives, why did Mohammad (pbuh) have eleven?
Did the Prophet Marry his Son's wife?
Mohammad (pbuh) copied Science from the Greeks?

Quran
Misquoted 'Violent Verses'
Quran is the Word of God
Abrogation in Quran, why?
Versions of the Quran burnt?
Sun sets in Murky/Muddy water?
Math error in Issue of Inheritance?
Iblis - Angel or Jinn
Is a day equal to 1000 or 50,000 years?
Quran says the earth is flat!?
Lord of the TWO east and TWO wests?
Is man created from sperm or dust?
Were the earth and heavens created in 6 or 8 days?
Quran has verses which promote murder!!

Women and Islam
Women are oppressed as they must wear the Veil [Hijab]
Polygamy - Why 4 Wives!?
Man allowed four wives, why not woman allowed 4 husbands!?
Inheritance - Why is a woman’s share of the inherited wealth only half that of a man?
2 Female witnesses = 1 male...why?
Why isn't a woman allowed to be Head of the State?
Are women allowed in Mosques?
Divorce in Islam
Men get Hoor, what do women get?
Saudi - Rape Victim is Lashed, the Real Truth

Terrorism
General Terrorism Q and A
What is Jihad?
Quran has verses which promote murder!!
Terrorism and Fundamentalism
Islam was Spread by the Sword - Part 1
Islam was Spread by the Sword - Part 2
Suicide Bombing - What is the Ruling?
Who are the terrorists?
Misquoted 'Violent Verses'

General Islam
What is Islam?
Why the Misconceptions?
Why is Islam so special?
Why is Islam so strict?
Islam is for ARABS only?
Kafir/Kuffar - Is it an insult?
Alcohol - Why is its consumption prohibited?
Pork - Why don't Muslim's eat it?
Why aren't non-Muslims allowed in Mecca or Medina?
Muslims Worship a Black Box?
Does Satan sleep in your nose Overnight?
Do non-Muslims eat in 7 intestines?
Crescent/Moon - What is its significance in Islam?
Divorce in Islam
Polygamy - Why 4 Wives!?
Circumcision and Islam
Making 'Salam' to non-Muslims
Churches and Temples in Muslim countries?
Tareekh At-Tabari - How Reliable is it?
Saudi - Rape Victim is Lashed, the Real Truth
Description of Paradise According to Quran and Sunnah - Part 1.
Description of Paradise According to Quran and Sunnah - Part 2.
Eid Al-Adha [Festival of Sacrifice]

Answering Jews and Christians
Who was Offered for Sacrifice – Ishmael or Isaac?
Jesus in the Quran
Do Muslims believe in the Bible? [1]
Do Muslims Believe in the Bible? [2]
Why do Muslims reject and hate Jesus, Son of God?

Jesus [Isa (as)] in the Quran

2007-11-27T23:21:00.000-08:00

The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews , who rejected Jesus as a Prophet of God, called him an impostor. The Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the great prophets of God and respects him as much as Ibrahim (Abraham), Moses, and Mohammed. (Peace Be Upon Them) This is conformity with the Islamic view of the oneness of God, the oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God's messengers.

The essence of Islam - willing submission to the will of God - was revealed to Adam, who passed it on to his children. All following revelations to Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus, and finally Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Them) were conformity with that message, with some elaboration to define the revelation between man and God, man and man, man and instructions. Thus, any contradictions among revealed religions are viewed by Islam as a man-made element introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - should not be an exception.

Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his ascension to heaven, and passes judgements on the Christian beliefs concerning him. The Quranic account of Jesus starts with the conception of his mother, Mary, whose mother, the wife of Imran, vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple. When Mary became a woman, the Holy Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) appeared to her as a man bringing her news of a son. We read the following dialogue in the Quran between Mary and the Angel:

"When the angel said, "Mary, god gives you a good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, -high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be, "lord" said Mary "How shall I have a son, seeing no mortal has touched me? "Even so, he said "God creates what He will".When he decrees a thing He but say to it, "Be", and it is. (Al-Imran 3:45-47)

In a chapter (Surah) entitled "Maryam" (Mary), the Quran tells us how Mary gave birth to her son, and how the Jesus accused her when she brought the child home:

"Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him, and they said, "Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother a woman unchaste. Mary pointed to the child; but they said, 'Hoe shall we speak to one who still in the cradle, a little child. And he said, 'Lo, I am God's servant, God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet Blessed He has made me ,wherever/may be; and hi has enjoined me to prayer, and to give the alms so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up a live. "Maryam 19:29-33)

In the same chapter, following the above quotation, God assures Mohammed (PBUH) and through him the whole world, that what is told above is the TRUTH about Jesus (PBUH), although Christians might not accept it. Jesus is NOT the son of God: He was obviously enough, the son of Mary. The verses continue:
"That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him, He nut says to it, 'Be, and it is. (Maryam 19:34-35)

After this strong statement about the nature of Jesus, God directed Mohammed (PBUH) to call the Christians to worship the one God:

"Surely God is my God, and your God, so surely serve him. This is the straight path". (Maryam 19:36)

The rejection of the very idea of God having a son is restated later in the same chapter with even stronger words:

"And they say, The All-merciful has taken unto Himself a son. You have indeed advanced something hideous. As if the skies are about to burst, the earth to split asunder and its mountain to fall down in the utter ruin for that they have attributed to the All-merciful a son; and behaves not the All-merciful to take a son. None there in the heavens and earth but comes to the All-merciful as a servant" (Maryam 19:88-93)

The Quran recognizes the fact that Jesus had no human father, but this does not make him the son of God, or God himself. By this criterion, Adam would have been more entitled more entitled to be the son of God, because he had neither a father nor a mother, so the Quran draws attention to the miraculous creation of both in the following verses;
" truly the likeness of Jesus, in God's sight is as Adam's likeness; He created him of dust, then He said upon him, 'Be' and hi was. (Al-Imran 3:59)

The Quran rejects the concept of Trinity God the Father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit - as strongly as it rejects the concept of Jesus as the son of God. This is because GOD IS ONE. Three cannot be one. The Quran addresses Christians in the following verses from the Surrah entitled "An-Nisaa" (The Women)

People of the Book, do not go beyond the bounds in your religion, and say nought as to God but the Truth. The messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the messenger of God, and his word (Fulfilment of his word (Fulfilment of His command, through the word "Be", for the creation of Jesus) that he committed to Mary, and a spirit originating from Him (was given life by God). So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not 'Three'. Refrain, better is for you. God is only one God. Glory be to him-that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the Heavens and in the Earth; God suffices for a guardian.The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of God, neither the Angels who are close to Him. Whosoever disdains to serve Him and walks proud, He will assuredly muster them to Him, all of them.As for the believers, who do deeds of righteousness, we will pay them their rewards in full, and He will give them more, of His bounty; as for them who disdain and walks proud, then He will punish with a severe punishment, and they shall not find for them, apart from God, a friend or helper." (An-Nissa 4:171-173)

The denial of Jesus's divinity (and. For the matter, of Mary's divinity) is presented in the Quran in the form of a dialogue, at the Day of Judgement, between the Almighty Jesus. All the Messengers and their nations will gather before God and He will ask the Messengers how they were received by their people and what they said to them. Among those who will be questioned is Jesus:

"And when God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say unto men, "Take me and my mother as gods, apart from God"? He said, 'To you be glory! It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, you would have known it, knowing what is within my heart, though I do not know your knowledge; you know the things unseen. I only said to them what you did commands me: "Serve God, my God and your God." ( chapter Al-Maida ,verse 116)

Given that the Quran denies the Trinity and the son ship of Jesus, what, according to the Quran, was the real mission of Jesus? The answer is that Jesus was a link in a long chain of Prophets and Messengers sent by God to various nations and societies whenever they needed guidance or deviated from his teachings of Moses and other Messengers. As he was miraculously supported by numerous miracles to prove that he was a Messengers from God. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his ministry.

In another verse of the Quran, Jesus confirmed the validity of the Torah which was revealed to Moses, and also conveyed he glad tidings of a final Messenger who follow him: "And when Jesus son of Mary said, 'Children of Israel, I am indeed the Messenger to you, confirming the Torah that is before me, and giving good tiding of a Messenger who shall be the praised one."(As-Saff 61:6)

The Quran attributes to Jesus miracles not mentioned in the Bible's Old and New Testaments, as well as specific verses in the Quran show how the Prophet Mohammad is rejected by Jews and Christians out of prejudice and misunderstanding, rather that carefully study the Bible. It is a sad fact of history that not many are following the "straight path" to which people were called by Jesus. He was only followed by a few disciples inspired by God to support him.

The non-believers plotted - as they would against Mohammed, six centuries later - to kill Jesus. But God had better plan for him and his followers, as the Quran tells us:"And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said 'Who will be my helpers in the cause of God? The apostles said, 'we are Gods helpers. We believe in God; so bear witness of our submission God, we believe in that you have sent down, and we follow the Messenger. Inscribe us therefore with those who bear witness. 'And they devised, and God devised, and God devised, and God is the best of divisors. When God said, 'Jesus, I will take you to Me and will raise you to Me, and I will purify you (of the falsehoods) of those who do not believe. I will make your followers above the unbelievers till the Resurrection Day."(Al-Imran 3:52-55)

As the above verses indicate, Jesus was taken and raised to heaven. He was not crucified. It was certainly the plan of the enemies of Jesus to put him to death on the cross, but God saved him and someone else was crucified:

"And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a grave false charge, and for their saying, 'We killed the messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah of God"…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him are surely in doubt the following of conjecture; and they did not kill him of certainty…no indeed; God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, Allwise. There is not one of the people of the book but will assuredly believe him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them." (An-Nissa 4:156-159)

The Quran does not explain who was the person crucified instead of Jesus, nor elaborate on the Second Coming of Jesus. However, explanators of the Quran have always interpreted the last verse of the above quotation to mean that Jesus will believe in him before he dies. This understanding is supported by authentic sayings (Hadith) of the Prophet Mohammed may the peace and blessings of Allah him and upon all His Messengers.

Read: http://www.islam-guide.com/islam-guide.pdf

Do Muslims believe in the bible [Reply 2]?

2007-11-24T18:04:00.000-08:00

First of all, I would like to clear a misunderstanding among certain Muslims, which some Christian missionaries are trying to take undue advantage of: The Muslims do not believe that the Torah and Bible are lost, that they are completely lost. The Qur’anic position about the Torah and Bible is very clear. Here, I would like to point out that it is well attested by learned Christian scholars too. That is, the Books of God as revealed to Moses and Jesus do not exist now in the original form and language.

Many Muslims misunderstand that the Christian Old Testament is the Torah. This is not true. The first five books of the Old Testament, often called the Pentateuch (the Five Books), contain some of the ideas in the original Torah - that is all. The language of the original Torah was ancient Hebrew; now nobody speaks that language. The first five books of the Old Testament contain ideas from the original Torah and also stories, which could have never been part of the divinely revealed Book. So the Jewish or Christian Torah contains some parts of the Original Torah, as well as other things.

The same is the case of the Bible. It was revealed to Jesus by God, in Jesus’ own language of Aramaic, which is a Semitic language, an eastern language similar to Hebrew and Arabic. The “original” extant copies of the gospels are in Greek, a western language. Now there are four gospels, supposed to have been written by four of the disciples of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Was Jesus quoting, from these Greek books, written many years after his disappearance when he was addressing his people? Certainly not! He was quoting from the Book he received from God, which was the original Bible in the language of his own people. The argument that God revealed his Bible to Jesus in Greek is like saying that God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad in English!

So the original Gospel was not in Greek, it was in the language Jesus and his people spoke and understood. We have no record or evidence to indicate that; this original Gospel was written down by scribes under Jesus’ own supervision. I repeat: We have no original Gospel existing now as a single volume, in the original language. Every educated Christian must know this fact! (Those who are in doubt can go to the Jerome Biblical Commentary, or any authentic book by genuine scholars that deal with the subject. Nevertheless, missionaries give the impression that this is only a baseless charge by Muslims.

Instead of the original Gospel, we have four books written by persons who are supposed to have been Jesus’ disciples. I say ‘supposed’, because modern scholars who have done research on the subject, question the claim that these were the disciples of Jesus, in the first place. These four books called the Gospels are placed at the beginning of some 27 books, bound together into one volume, called The New Testament. Out of these 27 books, thirteen were written by a man called St. Paul. This Paul was not a disciple of Jesus, nor has Jesus met him, as he himself testifies. Modern Christians are ardent followers of St. Paul, even in cases where Paul clearly contradicts Jesus!

The Islamic request to Christians is just this: Please follow Jesus, don’t follow Paul, who preaches a different gospel! The Islamic belief about the present Book, which the Christians use as “the word of God”, called the New Testament is that it is not the Gospel of Jesus mentioned in the Qur'an. Still, Muslims believe that the Gospels in the bible contain some teachings of Jesus, as well as the interpretations of the writers of those books, whoever they might have been. Also Muslims believe that in the words quoted from Jesus in these gospels, you come across certain ideas, which he received from God too. So the New Testament (particularly the Gospels) is valuable to the Muslims. It is valuable in that there is the “word of God” in it, exactly as the Old Testament (particularly the Pentateuch) is valuable to Muslims in that it contains also the “word of God” in it.

There is a couple of things that we must understand about God commanding Muslims to go to Christians or Jews and ask them about any particular point, to verify whether it is in their books.

1. God wants to make Muslims, as well as the People of the Book, understand the continuity of Divine Guidance.
2. He wants to encourage understanding and dialogue between Muslims and others, for Allah knows best.

The Qur’an does not say anywhere that the older scriptures remained pure and free from corruption. On the contrary, the Qur’an very clearly says that they have been corrupted. One of the functions of the Qur’an is to confirm the truth that is left in the older scriptures, even after many interpolations and revisions have affected substantial changes in them.

The Qur’anic position about the previous scriptures is clarified in the following verse:

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what God hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If God had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to God; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute; Surah 5 Verse 48

This verse means that the Qur’an confirms the truth that remains in the former scriptures. The Arabic word translated, “Watcher over” is Muhaymin, which clearly indicates that the Qur’an confirms only the truth in the previous books. That the keepers of the previous books had distorted them is made clear in another verse:

Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from God," to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby. Surah 2 Verse 79

From these two verses, it is quite clear that the Qur’an does not support the Christian claim that the Torah and the Bible remain uncorrupted all through history. What is more, this is not a claim they can maintain in the light of their own scripture:

“How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie” (Jeremiah 8:8, quoted from the New American Standard Bible).

Here the Prophet Jeremiah is scolding the Israelites that their corrupt scribes have made the Law of the Lord (that is the Torah) into a lie by their ‘lying pen’ (that is the pen they used to change the verses). This proof in the Book, the People of the Book are carrying, clearly establishes that their Book has been corrupted by their own scribes.

We have good evidence in the Gospels themselves that Jesus was using the original Bible for his preaching. He used to refer to it as The Gospel of the Kingdom:
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” (Matthew 4: 23)

Here it is said that Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. Ask those Christian disputants whether Jesus was preaching one of the four Canonical gospels included in the Bible in 325 C.E, written not in Jesus’ own Aramaic language, but in the western language of Greek, at least thirty years after his alleged crucifixion. It is so obvious that no Christian scholar, worth his salt, can deny the fact that the present gospels contain the words of God, the words of Jesus and the words of the writer. That means that they are not fully God’s word. The Islamic belief is also the same.

First,
All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel Made unlawful for itself, before the Law (of Moses) was revealed. Say: "Bring ye the Law and study it, if ye be men of truth." Surah 3 Verse 93

Second,
If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book from before thee: the Truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt. Surah 10 Verse 94

We must understand that these verses were originally addressed to the Prophet and his contemporaries. They had no means of knowing many of the ideas, which were being revealed to them by God. This is because there were so many things new to them, particularly about Jews and Christians, which were already really confusing to those polytheists or ex-polytheists of Mecca and Madinah. I believe (Allah knows best), it is to these people that the verses are primarily addressed.

"The truth hath indeed come to thee from thy Lord: so be in no wise of those in doubt" - is clearly addressed to those who doubt, or to those who are likely to have some doubts. It is only natural for humans to have all kinds of doubts and questions, arising in the mind, especially in the light of so much of new material. It seems the Christian argument is that we are commanded not to doubt the Christian claims. However, as we have seen, this is not what the Qur'an commands us to do.

May Allah guide us to truth!

Mr. Lamaan Ball, editor of Ask About Islam, adds:

We are told in the Qur'an only to verify that what is in the Qur'an agrees with some extant verses of the Bible. The Muslims can quote the Bible, because they believe there is some truth in it. But we need to be clear: we understand that there is also falsehood there, which is wrongly presented as truth. By quoting the Bible we can show that the Qur'an confirms teachings already present in the earlier books. We must however always be clear that we are not asserting anything else about the remaining contents of those earlier books

IslamOnline

Do Muslims believe in the bible [Reply 1]?

2007-11-24T17:58:00.000-08:00

First of all, we should affirm that Muslims believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) as a Messenger from Allah. In fact, this belief represents one of the pillars of the faith. In addition, Muslims believe that Jesus was supported by the Injeel which was revealed by Allah to him. However, the Injeel was exposed to manipulation and alteration. Since we do not know which parts were added to the original text, we believe in the provisions confirmed by the Qur’an and Sunnah and reject whatever contradicts them.

Based on this principle, Muslims believe in the miracles of Jesus which were mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah says: (And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel. And will make him a messenger unto the children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah's leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are believers. And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me . Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path. ) (Aal `Imran 3: 48-51)

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Bible contains both the genuine teachings of the Prophet Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) as well as those added to it by later Christians. We, as Muslims, are to believe in everything that Jesus taught. Since we have no way of knowing which of those teachings are genuine other than through their confirmation by the Final Revelation, namely, the Qur'an, we reject everything that is contradicted by the Qur’an, while confirming everything that has been attested by the same.

As for those teachings which are neither confirmed nor contradicted by the Qur'an, we do not reject them entirely, we only say, (We believe in what has been revealed to you and what has been revealed to us from our Lord and your Lord; our Lord and your Lord is One. ) (Al-`Ankabut 29: 46)

As for the miracles of Jesus, the Qur'an confirms them; so every Muslim must believes in them.

A Muslim also is told beyond a shadow of doubt in the Qur'an that Prophet Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) is innocent of the later dogmas of Christianity such as Trinity, Incarnation, Original Sin, etc. as Jesus never taught them; they were added on by the Christians as they came under the influence of pagan religions and cults they came into contact with. May Allah help us all to cling to the pure monotheism (tawhid) preached by all prophets and messengers from Adam to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all).

Thus, believing in Jesus and his miracles is essential for the faith of any Muslim. This, however, does not mean believing whatever contained in the present Gospel for it does not represent totally the original word of Allah.

IslamOnline

Also read: Reply 2

Love in Quran and Hadith

2007-11-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

There are many verses in the Quran that speak of Allah's love for His creation, and how we must love our creator and fellow brothers and sisters. The Prophet Mohammad (saw) has also given us guidelines on how to love one another as Muslims.

Love in The Quran

"And yet there are some people,
who replace God with rivals,
loving them as God is loved.
But the believers love God more intensely"
(2:165)

"It was made attractive to people,
the love of things they crave;
women, sons, heaped-up heaps of gold and silver,
branded horses, cattle and will-tilled land.
But that is for the enjoyment of this worldly life,
But God, with Him is the beautiful homecoming"
(3:14)

"Say: If you love
your fathers, your sons, your brothers,
your spouses, your family ties,
the wealth you have gained,
the business you fear would decline, and
the dwellings of which you are fond,
more than you love God,
His messenger and
striving for God's cause (Jehad),
then wait until God
brings about His decision,
as God does not guide
those who are ungodly"

God loves:
those who do good deeds (2:195)
those who ask Him for forgiveness (2:222)
those who purify themselves (2:222)
those who are God-fearing (3:76)
those who are steadfast (3:146)
those who trust Him (3:159)
those who act justly (5:42)
those who strive for His cause (61:4)
those who follow His Prophet (3:31)

God does not love:
the aggressors (2:190)
the disbelievers (3:32)
those who inflict injustice (3:57)
evil (5:64) and evil doers (2:205)
those who are arrogant (4:36)
those who spend lavishly (6:141)

"You will not attain righteousness,
unless you give of that which you love" (3:92)
"They (the disbelievers) love this worldly life
more than the Hereafter" (16:107)

"O you believe ..
God has made you love the Faith,
and made it so beautiful in your hearts,
and has made you hate disbelief,
immorality and rebelliousness.
These are the righteous.
This is grace and bounty,
from God, as God is All-knowledgeable
and All-Wise" (49:6-8)

"Say (O Mohammed) "If you do love God,
follow me,
God will love you,
and forgive your sins,
as God is All-Forgiving, All-Merciful". (3:31)

"O you believe ..
Do not you love that God
Would forgive you?" (24:22)

From the Hadith

"God Almighty said: If My servant loves to meet
Me, I love to meet him, and if he hates to meet
Me, I hate to meet him." (narrated by Bukhari)

"God loves kindness when you deal with any
matter" (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
"You will not enter Paradise until you have faith
and you will not have faith until you love one
another. Do you want me to tell you
something you can do to make you love one
another? Make it a habit to greet one another
with "Asalamu Alaykum" - peace upon you".
(narrated by Muslim)

"Give gifts to each other, as this will make you
love one another." (narrated by Muslim)

"The most loved person by God Almighty on the
Day of Judgement and nearest to Him is a just
ruler. And the most hated person by God
Almighty on the Day of Judgement and farthest
from Him is an unjust ruler."
(narrated by Tirmizi)
"If a Muslim loves his Muslim brother, he should
inform him." (narrated by Tirmizi)

God would say on the Day of Judgement:
"Where are those who love each other for the sake of My glory? Today I will shelter them with My shade, as there is no shade today except My shade"." (narrated by Muslim)

"God Almighty said: "My servant draws near to Me with nothing more loved by Me than the acts of worship that I have enjoined upon him. My servant continues to try to draw near to Me with more devotion, until I love him. When I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears, his sight by which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, his feet on which he walks. When he asks Me for something, I will respond and when he takes refuge in Me, I will grant it to him. I do not hesitate in doing anything I intend to do as much as I hesitate in seizing the soul of My faithful servant; he hates death and I hate hurting him. But death is a must for him"."
(narrated by Bukhari)

"If God would love his servant He would call Archangel Gabriel and tell him "I love this person, therefore love him." And Gabriel would love him and call out in the heavens "God loves this person, therefore love him." And the inhabitants of the heavens would love him. Then he would be embraced by the people of this world. But if God would abhor his servant, He would call Gabriel and tell him "I abhor this person, therefore abhor him". And Gabriel would abhor him and call out in the heavens " God abhors this person, therefore abhor him." And the inhabitants of the heavens would abhor him. Then he would be abhorred by the people of this world." (narrated by Muslim)

"God Almighty said "I am as My servant expects Me to be. I am with him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me to himself, I would remember him to Myself. And if he remembers Me in a gathering, I would remember him in a gathering, which is even better. And if My servant draws near to Me by a hand's span, I would draw near to him by an arm's length and if he draws near to Me by an arm's length, I would draw near to him by a fathom's length. And if My servant comes to me walking, I would go to him speeding." (narrated by Bukhari)

"A strong believer is better and more loved by God Almighty than a weak believer, although both bear goodness. Thus, seek eagerly what benefits you the most and seek God's help. Do not show weakness in your struggle and if something bad happens to you, do not say "if I had done so and so, then such and such would not have happened", but say "it was my destiny and God has allowed what He wished" , because the word 'if' in this context would open the door for Satan to work on you."

"A man came to the Prophet (may God's peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him "O God's Messenger, tell me of something I do to win God's love and people's love". The Prophet answered "Do not love this world, God would love you and do not have a longing for whatever people have, people would love you".
(narrated by Ibn-Majah)

"Visit one another from time to time, your love for each other will increase."
(narrated by al Bazzar)

"None of you will truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself".
(narrated by Bukhari)

"Whoever loves for God's sake, hates for God's sake, gives for God's sake and withholds for God's sake has a perfect faith."
(narrated by Abo Dawood)

"There are three characteristics whoever has them will taste the sweetness of faith: that God and His Messenger are more loved by him than everything else, that he loves or does not love a person only for God's sake and that he would hate to revert into disbelief just as he would hate to be thrown into fire." (narrated by Bukhari)

"There are seven whom God will shade with His shade on the Day when there is no shade except His; a just ruler, a youth who grew up in the worship of His Lord, a man whose heart is attached to mosques, two men who love each other only for God's sake, meeting and parting for that love, a man who resists the call of a woman of noble birth and beauty to commit fornication, but he refuses and says "I fear God", a man who gives charity secretly so that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given and a man whose eyes flood with tears whenever he remembers God in private."
(narrated by Bukhari)

"When a man asked the prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, "O Messenger of God, when will the Day of Judgement be?", the Prophet replied, "What have you prepared for it?" he said, "I have not prepared for it a great deal of prayer, fasting nor charity, but I love God and His Messenger intensely," the Prophet said, "You will be with those whom you love."

Love in Islam

2007-11-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

Coming from a Western or European background, we often equate love with the stereotypical images that we see in all forms of media. The pouting woman waiting breathlessly at home for husband to appear to “love her,” alternatively the career woman who throws off the shackles of the workforce to return breathlessly home to her waiting husband. Sex sells, and the print and visual media take advantage of this fact. Sex sells, and businesses in all corners of the world will do anything to make an extra dollar. Sex is not love, and the word ‘love’ has, unfortunately, lost much of its true meaning.

We drive to work past the giant billboards selling cars and clothes and laundry detergent. The billboards all have one thing in common a pouting woman who says with smoldering eyes “drive this car and attract women like me”; “wear this brand of clothes and women will want you more then the clothes.” We open the newspaper to see advertisements for exotic destinations; the people appear to be happy and “in love.” The television and movie screens tell us that if you consume this product you will be desirable, your husband or wife will “love you.” Drink brand X and fall in love, wear brand Y and have all fall in love with you.

This is not love, this is an advertising ploy. Marriages fall by the wayside because husbands and wives find that they cannot live up to the expectations that they impose on themselves and each other. The images are impossible to emulate simply because they are not real; they come from the minds of advertising executives, not from the natural order of our lives. Our senses are assaulted almost every waking moment by images of what the media feeds to us as a normal lifestyle. These images are not normal, and the lifestyles that they portray are in no way a reflection of how men and woman should live together in a normal, healthy relationship.

Islam, on the other hand, being the natural way for human beings to live, employs no trickery or gimmicks. Love in Islam brings men and woman together with strong bonds that tie couples together with the rope of Islam. [And hold fast all of you together, to the rope of Allah (i.e., this Qur’an), and be not divided among your selves, and remember Allahs favour on you] (Aal `Imran 3:103). A marriage based firmly and soundly on the Qur’an and the Sunnah should suffer none of the pangs of insecurity and subterfuge that abound in marriages whose role models are the pouting woman and muscle bound man found in all forms of media. Marriage in Islam is a contract between two people, a man and a woman, by which they agree to enter into a [halal] relationship for the sake of Allah Most High.

It is a relationship that binds them to each other through all the tests and trials of this life, through hardship and ease. [Verily along with every hardship is relief] (Ash-Sharh 94:6). It should be a relationship whose sole purpose is to worship, praise, and thank Allah Most High. If love—the tender blissful feeling of being in love—is present in this relationship, then it is an extra blessing from Allah.

Marriage in Islam is not based on whether we find our partner desirable or whether he or she contributes a great deal of money to the family. Marriage in Islam is a partnership. Two people, working as one unit. One unit striving for Jannah, longing to secure themselves a place in the shade of Allah. Love in Islam is a [halal] marriage secure in the knowledge that the wealth and adornments of this world are but illusions and that it is in the Hereafter that our real lives will begin.

[And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the hereafter for those that are al-muttaqun (the pious). Will you not then understand?] (Al-An`Am 6:32)

If we examine our thoughts on love and marriage and endeavor to renew our intentions to have a marriage for the sake of Allah Most High, we will, [in sha’ Allah], find that we are no longer blinded by the subtle advertising that invades our lives and eats away at our [iman]. Shaytan (Satan) works in devious and treacherous ways and loves nothing more then to put enmity between a husband and wife. His work is made easier by the fact that we are so easily deceived. Before we realize what is happening, the seeds of destruction have grown into an evil tree.

We begin to think and worry because our marriages are not what we see on the television or read about in the latest release novels. Our minds are invaded with thoughts that are contrary to the natural order of Islam and the universe, and our insecurities lead us to long for unattainable and unnecessary ideals in our lives and marriages. We have grown complacent in our commitment to our marriages and to our Islam, where as Shaytan is ever watchful and eager to guide us to the path that leads to nowhere but eternal Hellfire.

A marriage in Islam is about more than ‘love’; love in Islam is about more than tender feelings and smoldering sexual desires.

Through our commitment to Islam we should be able to return to an era where love and marriage are synonymous. Where a marriage is a partnership, a bonding of two people that, like ripples on water, moves ever steadily outwards to encompass the ideals of an Islamic community. The bonds of marriage should tie us to each other, to our families and children, to our brothers and sisters in Islam, to the worldwide Ummah. If we put our love for Allah first and our own desires last, then we should find ourselves in a relationship that no longer falls prey to the subterfuge of Shaytan. We should cling tightly to the rope of Islam and recognize the fact that life is not always sunshine and roses but that this [dunya] is a place of testing and tribulations. [Do people think they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested] (Al-`Ankabut 29:2). We should bear our tests with patience and gratitude, take refuge with Allah, and take comfort in the arms of our spouses.

[And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient, Who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return. Those are they on whom are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those are the followers of the right course.] (Al-Baqarah 2:155–157)

By Aisha Tahira Stacey

Suicide Bombings, what is the ruling?

2007-11-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

What is the Islaamic Verdict on Suicide Bombings? What is the ruling regarding acts of Jihaad by means of suicide, such as attaching explosives to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as a result of this action?

Answer 1 from Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (One of the greatest scholars of this century, from Saudi Arabia) in his book: Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 119
Indeed, my opinion is that he is regarded as one who has killed himself (committed suicide), and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for that which is authenticated on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).[(Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever), [Bukhaaree (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)]].

However, one who is ignorant and does not know, and assumes his action was good and pleasing to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala), then we hope Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) forgives him for that which he did out of (ignorant) ijtihaad, even though I do not find any excuse for him in the present day. This is because this type of suicide is well known and widespread amongst the people, so it is upon the person to ask the people of knowledge (scholars) regarding it, until the right guidance for him is differentiated from the error.

And from that which is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allaah having forbidden this, as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says: {And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you}, [Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 29].

And many amongst them do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever means, be it halaal or haraam. So they only want to satisfy their thirst for revenge.

We ask Allaah to bless us with foresight in His Deen and action(s) which please Him, indeed He is all Powerful over all things.

Answer 2: One more Scholar was asked about Suicide Bombings in the Scales of Islaamic Law his name is Imaam Muhammad Naasir-ud Deen Al-Albaanee (One of the greatest Muhaddith of this century, from Damascus)

It is uniformly known amongst the Scholars that it is not permissible for a Muslim to commit suicide to relieve himself of a calamity "financial, painful illness that is terminal or any other thing that has befallen him. Suicide to relieve oneself from these types of hardships is without a doubt Haraam. There are Hadeeth reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim that imply that a person taking his own life by consuming poison or piercing himself or any other means (that result in his death) shall result in him being punished with that same mode of death until the Day of Resurrection.

Some of the scholars have understood that the person who commits suicide dies as a Kaafir or an unbeliever since the one who commits such an act has malice and distain for His Lord because of the calamities he has faced without patience. Without a doubt, a (true) Muslim could never reach the level whereby he contemplates such a heinous act, let alone carry out the act of taking his own life.

In most cases the individual who takes his own life is not a "true believer. Yet it is conceivable that a Muslim may be affected by a contagious evil ideology that may lead him to commit suicide. It is conceivable that such an act could take place. Due to this we say with full conviction and certainty that he (the one who commits suicide) is not a true believer. This is similar to the one who abandons prayer out of Juhood (stubborn rejection) of its legislation and passes away a Muslim named Ahmad bin Muhammad. But if it was known that he denied/disavowed prayer then he is not to be buried within the Muslim burial ground. The same (conditions and verdict) is for the one who commits suicide and it becomes known that his suicide was due to malice and distain for His Lord because of the calamities he faced.

We now turn our attention to suicide missions. These suicide missions became infamously known (around the world) because of the Japanese practice of Kamikaze. A man would hurl his warplane towards an American naval vessel, effectively destroying himself along with the plane and as many enemy soldiers as he could muster. All suicide missions in our current time are unsanctioned deeds that are all to be considered Haraam (prohibited).

The suicide missions may be of the type that renders its practitioner eternally in the Fire or it could be the type that renders its practitioner to be from those who shall not reside eternally in the Fire as I have just explained. But to view these suicide missions as a being a means to draw near to Allaah (praiseworthy act of worship) by killing oneself today for his land or his country then we say No (it is not an act that is praiseworthy). These suicide missions are not Islamic! In fact I say today that which represents the Islamic reality not the reality that is sought by a few of the (improperly) overly active Muslims â€“ that there is no Jihaad in the Islaamic lands at all.

Surely there is combat in numerous Muslim countries, but there is no Jihaad that is established under a (solely) Islaamic banner, and that is established upon Islamic regulations. From these (missing) regulations are that a soldier is not permitted to act as he (individually and singularly) wishes. He is not permitted to decide for himself what it is that he is to do. Rather he is to be bound to an order from a commander. In turn this commander is not an individual who claims the position (of leadership) for himself and makes himself commander. Rather the commander is delegated the authority from the Khaleefah of the Muslims.

So where is the Khaleefah for the Muslims today? Where is the Khaleefah, or for that matter a ruler who raises (solely) the banner of Islaam and calls Muslims to draw near him and perform Jihaad in the way of Allaah (alone)?

As long as (we affirm) that Jihaad, according to Islamic (regulations), must fulfill the prerequisite of it being (solely) under the banner of Islaam and (we find that) this banner does not have a commander (during the current era), then we (state) that an Islamic suicide is not permitted (as it is performed today).

US Commander Converts to Islam

2007-11-09T04:23:00.001-08:00

US commander converts to Islam
Sun, 04 Nov 2007

The US commander of International Security Assistance Force in the Andar district of Ghazni Province in Afghanistan has embraced Islam.
The commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) embraced Islam in the presence of 2,000 people on Thursday.

Cap. Cormier Michel - 45 - commands 300 ISAF troops in the Taliban-infested district. The Ghazni governor, district chief, provincial council members, local officials, elders, ISAF soldiers and students attended a ceremony marking the commander's conversion to Islam.

The ceremony, which lasted well over three hours, concluded with chants of 'Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is Great).

Cap. Michel, who changed his name to Abdul Wahed, started his brief speech with Bismillah (In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful). During the last five years, Abdul Wahed pointed out, he had been studying Islamic books and he concluded that Islam is the first religion.

“Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood, but terrorists and extremists are bringing a bad name to it," he noted.

Source

Satanic Verses / Daughters of God?

2007-11-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

Allegation: The orientalists allege that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was worried about the enmity of the non-believers in Makkah. In such a state of mind one day went to Ka`bah where he recited to the gathering of believers and non-believers Surah An-Najm 53 which is said to have been revealed at that time.

The allegation is that in the course of its recitation and when he uttered the verse 19-20 “Do you see al Lat and al `Uzza and the other third Manat?” Satan threw in the couplet “Those are the swans exalted; verily their intercession is to be expected”.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then completed the Surah and at the end of it went into prostration in accordance with the last verse. All those present there, the believers and non-believers also did so except an old Quraishi leader (Umayyah Ibn Khalaf or Al-Walid Ibn Al-Mughirah or Abu Umayyah) who raised a handful of dust and touched it with his forehead saying that would suffice for him. The Quraishi leaders are said to have given out as reason for their prostration themselves, by saying that now that the Prophet had recognized the position of their goddesses as intercessors with Allah, there was in fact no point of quarrel with him.

Afterwards, in the evening (some versions do not specify any time) Jibril came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and asked him to recite the Surah, which he did, still reciting the “satanic verses”. Jibril protested, saying that those were not what had been revealed. At this, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, became very sad and apprehensive of Allah’s wrath. Thereupon two separate passages, 17:73-75 and 22-52 were revealed in reassuring the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the “satanic verses” were repealed. The Quraishi leaders became angry and renewed their enmity and opposition with increased vehemence. Meanwhile the news of non-believers’ prostration reached Abyssinia in the form of rumor of their compromise with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims returned to Makkah.

Reply: The story is so manifestly absurd and untrue that it ought to have been rejected outright as such and not recorded by the chroniclers and traditionalists. But since some of them have recorded it has often been cited as ground for its genuineness, rather than the obviously discrediting features of the story itself.

Imam Fakhr Ad-Din Ar-Razi correctly points out that those who have critically looked at the story have all rejected it as spurious on the grounds of its conflict with the clear testimony of the Qur’an, the rules governing the genuineness of traditions and the dictates of reason.

The Qur’anic evidence against the genuineness of the story is of three kinds.

There are a number of statements in the Qur’an that show that neither Satan nor anyone else could interfere in the process of coming of the revelation. Nor did the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ever entertain any intention of making compromise with the unbelieving leaders, nor did he ever interpolate in the text of the revelation.

The passages cited as having been revealed as a sequel to the incident and for reassuring the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prove to the contrary, showing that he had not made even the slightest move towards making a compromise with the unbelieving leaders.

The internal evidence of Surah An-Najm (53), in connection with the revelation of which the story has been foisted, goes against its spirit and purpose.

THE PASSAGES FROM THE QUR’AN THAT DIRECTLY BELIE THE STORY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

“If he (Messenger) were to invent any saying in Our Name, We should certainly have seized him by the right hand and We should then have surely cut off the artery of his heart"
[Qur’an 60:44-46]

“Say; It is not for me, of my own accord, to change it (the revelation). I follow naught but what is revealed unto me"
[Qur'an 10:15 ]

“No falsehood can approach it from the front, nor from the rear (i.e. neither directly nor indirectly). It is sent-down from Allah the All-Wise, the All-Praiseworthy.”
[Qur'an 41:42]

“We indeed have sent down the recital (the Qur’an) and indeed are its Protectors (from any interference).”
[Qur'an 15:9]

“In what way (We have revealed it), that We may make your heart firm thereby; and We have dictated it in stages.”
[Qur'an 25:32]

It is seen from the above that the Qur’an repeatedly assures that Allah has protected it against any possibility of being tampered with directly or indirectly, that it is not for the Prophet to change it or add to it anything. If he had done so, Allah’s severe punishment would inevitably and irresistibly have befallen him. These clear and positive statements directly contradict the story, which says that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, of his own accord or being deceived by Satan introduced something into the text of revelation. Not only that. The alleged interpolation violated the fundamental teaching of the Qur’an – monotheism (Tauhid) and thus constituted the offence of shirk which Allah warns elsewhere in the Qur’an that He shall under no circumstances forgive.

The story is thus quite contrary to the specific statements of the Qur’an and also to the tenor and purport of its entire text. As such the story is totally unworthy of any credence. This is not simply from a Muslim’s point of view, but also from true historian’s point of view.

The two passages of the Qur’an that are said to have been revealed as a sequel to the story are as follows:

“Indeed they were about to divert you from what We revealed to you, in order that you forge against Us something else, and in that case they would certainly have taken you as a friend. And had We not made you firm, you would almost have inclined towards them a little; and in that case we would have made you taste the double (punishment) in death; and then you would not have found for you as against Us any helper.”
[Qur'an 17:73-75]

These verses were revealed 11 or 12 years after the call to Prophethood.

“Never did We send a Messenger nor a Prophet before you, but that when he formed an intention Satan threw something in his intention; but Allah cancels what Satan throws in and then makes His sign prevail. Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise.
[Qur'an 22:52]

This verse was revealed during the 1st year of Hijrah.

A little careful look at them would at once show that their texts, far from supporting the story, do in fact contradict it.

The first passage shows that it was the unbelievers who attempted to induce the Prophet to making a compromise with them, not that he ever wanted it. The passage further states that Allah made the Prophet’s heart firm against such attempts of the unbelievers. The emphasis here is on the intensity of the unbelievers’ attempts, and Allah’s special favor upon the Prophet making him immune against such efforts and because of such special favor, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not incline towards the unbelievers even a little. Finally the above verse warns that, had the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, been guilty of slight inclination towards the unbelievers’ proposals, he would have been doubly punished by Allah.

It is strange that the orientalists mention the above verses revealed about 8 or 9 years after the alleged incident as assurance from Allah, because during this period so many major events had taken place, including the Hijrah.

The Internal Evidence of Surah An-Najm (53)

The Surah starts emphasizing that,

“He (the Prophet) does not speak out of his desire. It is naught but Wahy (revelation) communicated to him.” In verses 3-4. The Surah declares that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, has not gone astray, nor erred, nor does he speak out of his own desire, but what he gives out is only revelation communicated to him. It is impossible to think that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would immediately add the alleged two verse within this Surah itself, thus contradicting the very essence of the Surah. Though there are over 15 versions of the allegation, all the versions agree that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited the whole of Surah An-Najm on this occasion and prostrated himself at the end of it.

The alleged verses as follows:

“Those are swans exalted. Whose intercession is to be expected.”

These alleged two verses do not fit in any place in the Surah. If we simply insert them after verse 19 and 20 they will read as follows:

“Have you then considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzza (two idols of the pagan Arabs)
[v.19]

And Manat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the third?
[v.20]

Those are swans exalted. Whose intercession is to be expected.
[???]

Is it for you the males and for Him the females?
[v. 21]

That indeed is a division most unfair
[v.22]

They are but names, which you have named, - you and your fathers- for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to the Guidance from their Lord.
[v.23]

Or shall man have what he wishes?
[v.24]

But to Allah belongs the last (hereafter) and the first (the world)”
[v.25]

A simple glance shows that the alleged satanic verses shown in bold above do not fit in any place in the Surah An-Najm. The whole text from verses 19 to the end of the Surah has a unity and continuity on both theme and sequence. There is no giving-in on the question of intercession by anyone; no relaxation of the principle of individual and personal responsibility, no softening down of denunciation of the conduct of the unbelieving leaders and no room given to accommodating their attitudes.

The following additional information should be noted on this insinuation.

1 The story has come down in about a dozen varying versions and does not have a strong chain of narrators (Isnad). It is technically regarded as Mursal – i.e. its Isnad does not go up beyond the second generation (Tabi`un) after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. One of the versions traces back to `Abd Allah Ibn `Abbas as eye-witness, who was born some five years after the alleged event was said to have taken place. Apart from this, all the persons in the Isnad have names who are considered weak, unreliable or unknown.

2. The report itself suffer from grave differences and disagreements in all the four essential respects, namely:

* The occasion of the incident;

* Nature of the Prophet’s alleged act;

* The wording of the alleged “satanic verses”- as many as 15 different texts;

* The effect or sequel of the alleged incident.

3. There are reports that say, more significantly, that while the unbelievers heard the alleged “satanic verses”, the believers did not at all hear them. All the versions unanimously show that no objection or uneasiness was expressed by any of the believers at the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, alleged utterance of the verses, nor to his alleged dropping of them subsequently. If such an unusual incident as the giving out of some compromising verses and their subsequent withdrawal had at all taken place, it would have been narrated by some of the many Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

`Abdallah Ibn Mas`ud says that Surah An-Najm was the first Surah, which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited in front of a gathering of believers and non-believers at the Ka`bah compound. When he finished it and went into prostration, all those who were present, believers and non-believers also prostrated themselves. It is an acknowledged fact that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims could not publicly and in a body perform prayer or recite the Qur’an at the Ka`bah before the conversion of `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and the revelation of Sura An-Najm took place after his conversion. Conversion of `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was a great gain to Islam.

4. The Qur’an has the stunning effect on every non-believing Quraishi who heard it and their leaders such as `Utbah Ibn Rabi`ah themselves had confessed to this. As such, the non-believers without realizing what they were doing would have gone to prostration as commanded in the last verse of the Surah, together with the Muslims. Since the Quraishi leaders prostrated themselves or made a show of prostration, they must have been pressed by their followers to explain their act. When they realized what they have done, they would have tried to find a justification for their unintentional act of abiding by the Qur’anic command.

5. The other fact that needs emphasizing in this connection is that the text of the so-called “satanic verses” was no new composition made on the occasion. It was an old couplet that the Quraishi pagans used to recite in praise of their goddess while circumambulating the Ka`bah. It is also to be remembered that the unbelievers used to create noise and disturbances whenever the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, or Muslims recited the Qur’an publicly. Therefore, it is very likely that when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited the Surah and mentioned al-Lat and al-`Uzza in the course of his recitation and in a denunciatory strain, some of the Quraishi unbelievers instantly interrupted and protested by shouting out the couplets. Significantly enough, some versions of the story clearly state that the “satanic verses” were uttered not by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, but by Satan or some unbelievers, and they specifically state that the Muslims did not hear it.

IslamOnline

Prophet Mohammad's (pbuh) Marriages

2007-11-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

The Prophet's wives are a common target by the Haters of Islam. The following links are a compilation of all articles on Islamic Shield related to the Prophet's Marriages:

The Reasons for the Prophet's Marriages

Zaynab bint Jahsh - Did the Prophet marry his son's wife?

Reasons for the Prophet's Marriages

2007-11-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

As far as the issue of the Prophet’s marriages is concerned (peace and blessings be upon him) it is not problem for a Muslim who understands the ideal character of the Prophet and the circumstances under which his marriages were contracted. Quite often they stand as a stumbling block for non-Muslims to understand the personality of the Prophet, causing one to reach the wrong conclusion, which is not to the credit of Islam or the Prophet.

We will not give any conclusions of our own or denounce the conclusions of others. We shall present certain facts and allow the readers to see for themselves.

1. The institution of marriage enjoys a very high status in Islam. It is highly commendable and essential for the sound survival of society.

2. Prophet Muhammad never said that he was immortal or divine. Time and time again, he emphasized that he was a mortal being chosen by Allah to deliver His message to mankind. Although unique and distinguished in his life, he lived like a man and died as a man. Marriage, therefore, was natural for him, and not a heresy or anathema.

3. He lived in an extremely hot climate where the physical desires press hard on men, where people develop physical maturity at an early age, and where easy satisfaction was a common thing among people of all classes. Nevertheless, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had never touched a woman until he was 25 years of age when he married for the first time. In the whole of Arabia he was known by his upright character and was called Al-Amin (the trustworthy), a title which signified the highest standard of moral life.

4. His first marriage at this unusually late age was to Khadeejah, who was twice widowed and 15 years his senior. It was her who initiated the contract, and he accepted the proposal in spite of her age and marital status. At the time he could have quite easily found more beautiful women to be much younger wives, if he was inclined towards his physical desires.

5. He lived with Khadijah as her husband until he was over 50 years of age, and by her he had all his children with the exception of Ibrahim. She remained his wife until her death when she was over 65 years, and throughout her marriage the Prophet never took another wife or had any other intimacy.

6. Persecutions and perils were continually inflicted on him and the believers, particularly at the end of Khadijah’s life. It was during this time that his wife died and after her death, he stayed without re-marrying for some time. Sawdah, who had emigrated with her husband to Abyssinia in the early years of persecutions, sought shelter on her way back after her husband died. The natural course for her was to turn to the Prophet himself for whose mission her husband had died. The Prophet extended his shelter and married her. She was not particularly young or beautiful. She was an ordinary widow with a quick temper. Later in the same year, the Prophet proposed to `A'ishah who was seven years old and the daughter of his beloved Companion, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). The marriage was not consummated until sometime after the emigration to Madinah and when she had reached maturity. The motives of these two marriages can be understood to be anything except passion and physical attraction. However, he lived with the two wives for five to six years, when he was 56 years of age, without taking any other wife.

7. From the age of 56 to 60, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) contracted nine marriages in quick succession. In the last three years of his life he contracted no marriages at all. Most of his marriages were contracted in a period of about five years when he was passing the most difficult and trying stage in his mission. At that time the Muslims were engaged in decisive battles and entangled in an endless circle of external and internal problems. It was at that time that the Islamic legislation was in the making, and the foundations of an Islamic society were being laid down. The fact that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the most dominant figure in these events and the center around which they revolved, and that most of his marriages took place during this particular period is an extremely interesting phenomenon. It invites the serious attention of historians, sociologists, legislators, psychologists, etc. It cannot be interpreted simply in terms of physical attraction and lust.

8. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) lived a simple and modest life. During the day he was the busiest man of his era as he was Head of State, Chief Justice, Commander-in-Chief, instructor, etc. At night he was spiritually devoted to Allah as he used to stay one to two-thirds of every night vigilant in prayer and meditation (Qur'an, 73: 20). His furniture consisted of mats, jugs, blankets and other simple things, although he was the king and sovereign of Arabia. His life was so severe and austere that his wives once pressed him for worldly comforts, but they never had any (cf. Qur'an, 33: 48). Obviously, that was not the life of a lustful and passionate man.

9. The wives he took were all widows or divorced with the exception of `A'ishah. None of these widowed and divorced wives was particularly known for physical charms or beauties. Some of them were senior to him in age, and practically all of them sought his hand and shelter, or were presented to him as gifts, but he accepted them as legal wives.

This is the general background of the Prophet's marriages, and it cannot give any impression that these marriages were in response to physical needs or biological pressures. It is inconceivable to think that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) maintained so large a number of wives because of personal designs or physical wants. Anyone, friend or foe, who doubts the moral integrity or the spiritual excellence of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) on account of his marriages has to find satisfactory explanations of questions like these. Why did he first marry at the age of 25 after having had no association with any female? Why did he choose a twice-widowed woman, 15 years his senior? Why did he remain with her until her death when he was over fifty without having another wife? Why did he accept all those helpless widows and divorcees who possessed no particular appealing qualities? Why did he lead such an austere and hard life, when he could have had an easy and comfortable one? Why did he contract most of his marriages in the busiest five years in his life when his mission and career were at stake? How could he manage to be what he was, if the harem life or passions overtook him? There are many other points that can be raised and the whole subject cannot be simply interpreted in terms of masculine love and desire for women. It calls for serious and honest consideration.

Reviewing the marriages of Prophet Muhammad individually one does not fail to find the actual reasons behind these marriages. They may be classified as follows:

1. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the world as an ideal model for mankind, and he was in all aspects of his life. Marriage in particular is a striking illustration. He was the kindest, most loving and charitable husband. He had to undertake all stages of human experience and moral tests. He lived with one wife and with more than one, with the old and the young, with the widow and the divorcee, with the pleasant and the temperamental, and with the renowned and the humble. But, in all cases be was the epitome of kindness and consolation, and so designated to experience all the different aspects of human behavior and situations. This could not have been a physical pleasure; it was a moral trial as well as a human task, and a hard one too.

2. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to establish morality and assure every Muslim of security, protection, moral integrity and a decent life. His mission was put to the test in his life and it did not stay in the stationary form of theory. As usual, he took the hardest part and did his share in the most inconvenient manner. Wars and persecution burdened the Muslims with many widows, orphans and divorcees. They had to be protected and maintained by the surviving Muslim men. It was his practice to help these women become resettled by marriage to his Companions. The Companions rejected some women and so some of those women sought his personal patronage and protection. Realizing fully their conditions and sacrifices for the cause of Islam, he had to do something to relieve them. One course of relief was to take them as his own wives and accept the challenge of heavy liabilities. So he did so and maintained more than one wife at a time when it was no fun or easy course. He had to take part in the rehabilitation of those widows, orphans and divorcees because he could not ask his Companions to do things that he himself was not prepared to do or participate in. These women were trusts of the Muslims and they had to be looked after jointly. What he did, then, was his share of responsibility, and as always his share was the largest and heaviest. That is why he had more than one wife and more than any of his Companions.

3. There were many prisoners of war captured by the Muslims who were entitled to security and protection. They were not killed or denied their rights: human or physical. On the contrary, they were helped to settle down through legal marriages to Muslims instead of being taken as concubines and common mistresses. That also was another moral burden on the Muslims, which had to be shouldered jointly as a common responsibility. Here, again, Muhammad carried his share and took some responsibilities by marrying two of those captives.

4. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) contracted some of his marriages for sociopolitical reasons. His principal concern was the future of Islam. He was interested in strengthening the Muslims by all bonds. That is why he married the young daughter of Abu Bakr, his First Successor, and the daughter of `Umar, his Second Successor. It was by his marriage to Juwayriyyah that he gained the support for Islam of the whole clan of Bani Al-Mustaliq and their allied tribes. It was through marriage to Safiyyah that he neutralized a great section of the hostile Jews of Arabia. By accepting Mariyah, the Copt from Egypt, as his wife, he formed a political alliance with a king of great magnitude. It was also a gesture of friendship with a neighboring king that Muhammad married Zaynab who was presented to him by the Negus of Abyssinia in whose territory the early Muslims found safe refuge.

5. By contracting most of these marriages, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) meant to eliminate the caste or class system, racial and national pride and superiority, and religious prejudices. He married some of the humblest and poorest women. There was his marriage to Mariyah from Egypt, a Jewish woman of a different religion and race, and a Negro girl from Abyssinia. He was not satisfied with merely teaching brotherhood and equality: actions speak louder than words.

6. Some of the Prophet's marriages were for legislative reasons and to abolish certain corrupt traditions. Such was his marriage to Zaynab, divorcee of the freed slave Zayd. Before Islam, the Arabs did not allow divorcees to remarry. Zayd was adopted by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and called his son as was the custom among the Arabs before Islam. But Islam abrogated this custom and disapproved of its practice. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first man to express this disapproval in a practical way. So he married the divorcee of his "adopted" son to show that adoption does not really make the adopted child a real son of the adopting father and also to show that marriage is lawful for divorcees. Incidentally, this very Zaynab was Muhammad's cousin, and had been offered to him in marriage before she married Zayd. He refused her then, but after she was divorced he accepted her for the two legislative purposes: the lawful marriage of divorcees and the real status of adopted children. The story of this Zaynab has been associated in some minds with ridiculous fabrications regarding the moral integrity of Muhammad. These vicious fabrications are not even worth considering here (see Qur'an, 33: 36, 37, 40).

These are the circumstances accompanying the Prophet's marriages. For the Muslims there is no doubt whatsoever that Muhammad had the highest standards of morality and was the perfect model for mankind under all circumstances. To non-Muslims we appeal for a serious discussion of the matter. Then, they may be able to reach sound conclusions."

The Prophet Married his Son's wife!

2007-11-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

It is well known that the Prophet’s marriages were never to gratify lustful desires. Rather, if we take a look on every marriage he made, we will easily discern the wisdom behind it. It is no wonder to see the enemies of Islam touching such sensitive issues to cast a blemish on the personality of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for their goal is just to discredit Islam, as they find it unfathomable to see it as the world’s fastest growing religion. All their vicious attempts will come to nothing.

So first of all, we’d like to make it clear that none of the marriages was based on lust or uncontrollable passion, as some Orientalists would like us to believe. This fact is further clarified as follows:

“When people hear that the Prophet had many wives they conclude without much thought that the Prophet was a sensuous man. However, a quick historical review of his marriages proves otherwise.

When he was twenty-five years old he married for the first time his wife Khadijah, who was fifteen years older than he. She remained the only wife of the Prophet for the next twenty-five years until she died (may Allah be pleased with her).

Only after her death, did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) marry other women. Now, it is obvious that if the Prophet was after physical pleasure he did not have to wait until he was more than fifty years old to start marrying more wives. He lived in a society in which it was quite acceptable to have many wives. But the Prophet remained devoted to his only wife for twenty-five years. When she died she was sixty-five years old.

His later marriages were for various reasons. Some marriages were with the view to help the women whose husbands had been killed while they were defending their faith. Others were with a view to cement relationships with devoted followers like Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Yet others were to build bridges with various tribes who were otherwise at war with the Muslims. When the Prophet became their relative through marriage, their hostilities calmed down, and much bloodshed was averted.

Recent non-Muslim writers who had the opportunity to study the life of the Prophet first-hand reach a similar conclusion about his plural marriages.

John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for International Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, says that most of these marriages had "political and social motives" (Islam: The Straight Path, Oxford University Press, 1988, p. 19). This he explained as follows: "As was customary for Arab chiefs, many were political marriages to cement alliances. Others were marriages to the widows of his companions who had fallen in combat and were in need of protection." (John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path, pp. 19-20) Esposito reminds us of the following historical fact: "Though less common, polygyny was also permitted in biblical and even in postbiblical Judaism. From Araham, David, and Solomon down to the reformation period, polygyny was practiced." (p. 19)

Another non-Muslim Caesar E. Farah writes as follows: "In the prime of his youth and adult years Muhammad remained thoroughly devoted to Khadijah and would have none other for consort. This was an age that looked upon plural marriages with favor and in a society that in pre-Biblical and post-Biblical days considered polygamy an essential feature of social existence. David had six wives and numerous concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3) and Solomon was said to have had as many as 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21).

The New Testament contains no specific injunction against plural marriages. It was commonplace for the nobility among the Christians and Jews to contract plural marriages. Luther spoke of it with toleration." (Caesar E. Farah, Islam: Beliefs and Observances, 4th edition, Barron's, U.S. 1987, p. 69) Caesar Farah then concluded that Muhammad's plural marriages were due "partly to political reasons and partly to his concern for the wives of his companions who had fallen in battle defending the nascent Islamic community." (p. 69)"

Now, to focus on the case in question, we would like to cite for you the following:

“The reason for this marriage must be understood in the light of some important details: Islam inherited the inhuman institution of slavery. There were scores of slave men and women in every house. Instantly freeing them, it is clear, would have resulted in a lot of social and economic problems. Islam, therefore, adopted a gradual methodology to do away with slavery. It undertook various measures in this regard.

However, freeing these slaves was not the only problem, which was to be tackled. An even more important problem was to blend and graft them within the normal social structure of the society once they had been set free. Keeping in view the great sense of superiority the Arabs had over slaves, this was an extremely uphill task.

Consequently, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in order to make them acceptable as normal members of a society took a very radical step. He persuaded his cousin sister Zaynab bint Jahsh to marry Zayd ibn Harithah, a slave boy he had set free and brought up as a son. The marriage took place, but, unfortunately, it could not continue due to certain reasons (Zaynab was rather unhappy about the marriage, because of Zayd's former slave status. Zayd was very uneasy about the marriage and asked the Prophet's permission to divorce her). After this unfortunate dissolution of marriage, the only thing which could console Zaynab was if the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, married her.

Furthermore, it was necessary to reform a social custom concerning some erroneous concepts about an adopted son. According to this custom, the Arabs regarded the adopted sons and foster sons equally in all respects. This, of course, is against human nature and as such had to be abrogated. However, as a social custom, it was so deeply rooted in the Arab society that it could only be the Prophet's personality, which could abolish it. Consequently, on the Almighty's bidding, the Prophet married her to sympathize with her and to reform this custom.”

So, in the light of the above, it’s clear that the Prophet’s marriage to Zaynab was for legislative reasons. A Divine order was revealed to him for this purpose, and it has to be borne in mind that the Prophet was very reluctant to do so, because of what people might say about his marrying his former "daughter-in-law". But Allah, the Almighty, wanted to demonstrate in practice the absolute invalidity of adoption in the most practical manner.

More elaboration on this issue is made by the late Dr. Hammudah `Abdul-`Ati in his book Islam in Focus. He states:

“Before Islam, the Arabs did not allow divorcees to remarry. Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) was adopted by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and used to be called his son, in line with the custom among the Arabs before Islam. But Islam abrogated this custom and disapproved its practice.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first man to express this disapproval in a practical way. So he married the divorcee of his "adopted" son to show that adoption does not really make the adopted child a real son of the adopting father and also to show that divorcees have a right to remarry. Incidentally, this very Zaynab was Muhammad's cousin, and had been offered to him for marriage before she married Zayd.

The story of this Zaynab has been associated in some minds with ridiculous fabrications as regards the moral integrity of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). These vicious fabrications are not even worth considering here.

Referring to the verses tackling the issue, Allah Almighty says: “And it becometh not a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided and affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His Messenger, be verily goeth astray in error manifest. And when thou saidst unto him on whom Allah hath conferred favor and thou hast conferred favor: Keep thy wife to thyself, and fear Allah. And thou didst hide in thy mind that which Allah was to bring to light, and thou didst fear mankind whereas Allah had a better right that thou shouldst fear Him. So when Zayd had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from her, We gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them. The commandment of Allah must be fulfilled. There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Allah maketh his due. That was Allah's way with those who passed away of old and the commandment of Allah is certain destiny. Who delivered the messages of Allah and feared Him, and feared none save Allah. Allah keepeth good account. Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is Aware of all things.” (Al-Ahzab: 36-40)

These are the circumstances accompanying the Prophet's marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh. For the Muslims, there is no doubt whatsoever that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had the highest standards of morality and was the perfect model for man under all circumstances. To non-Muslims we appeal for a serious discussion of the matter. They, then, may be able to reach sound conclusions.”

Does Satan Stay in your Nose Overnight?

2007-11-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

The question was forwarded to, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America and Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Garden Grove, California. He states the following:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “When any of you wakes up from his sleep and makes ablution, let him clean his nose three times, because Satan stays at night at the upper part of his nose.” (Al-Bukhari)

We have forwarded your question to, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America and Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Garden Grove, California. He states the following:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “When any of you wakes up from his sleep and makes ablution, let him clean his nose three times, because Satan stays at night at the upper part of his nose.” (Al-Bukhari)

The author of this flyer ridicules this hadith. He considers this one of the “foolish and false statements” of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

He must have read his own Bible which has dozens of statements about Satan entering the bodies and bellies of people. The Gospel of John says that after Judas ate food from Jesus’ own hand, “Satan entered into him.” (John 13:27) So if after eating food from Jesus’ hand one could not be safe from Satan, what is surprising if an ordinary person has Satan near his nose during the night?

Muslim scholars explain that the nose is one of the ways to one’s mind and thoughts. Satan tries to put his ideas and suggestions into the mind of a person during his sleep as well. The best cure is that after waking up one should clean one’s nose, make ablution for Prayers and seek God’s protection. Some other scholars say that Satan is a symbol of everything bad and evil. Through this symbolism the Prophet was warning the people to be conscious about the cleanliness of their bodies. In the hot and dry climate, the nose does become stuffy during the night. One feels like the devil was in the nose. This was the Prophetic way to tell the people to keep themselves clean and make ablution as soon as they get up.

All Semitic languages, and especially Arabic, are full of metaphors and hyperboles. Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) used to speak in parables; similarly, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to instruct his people sometimes in a metaphorical and symbolic language. It is reported that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) supposedly said, “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6) These words fit very well on those who do not try to understand the Prophetic pearls and holy language. The author of this flyer should pay attention to these words of Jesus."

IslamOnline

Do Non-Muslims Eat in Seven Intestines?

2007-11-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

In the first place, we would like to stress that it is not necessary that the number seven in the Prophetic hadith referred to in the question be understood literally. Rather, some commentators on the hadith state that eating in seven intestines is a rhetorical way of saying “eating too much or being too greedy.”
Responding to your question, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America and Director of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Garden Grove, California, states the following:

"The author [of the flyer] quotes the Prophetic hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “A believer eats in one intestine whereas a non-believer eats in seven intestines.” This is an authentic hadith and is quoted by several authorities. The scholars of Hadith explain this to mean that a true believer is a contented person. He takes little from the material world. The non-believer is greedy and is never satisfied with what he has. The scholars say that one should not take the number seven literally; it is used in Arabic to indicate large number or quantity. “Eating in seven intestines” is a metaphorical way of saying “eating too much or being too greedy.”

Some scholars say that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was not speaking generally but he was referring to a particular person who came to visit him. This person was offered a glass of milk to drink, and he drank. His host poured some more milk in his glass and he drank that. Then some more was given and he drank that, too. This continued until this person drank seven glasses of milk. Next day he came again to the Prophet and the Prophet spoke to him about the message of Islam. The visitor accepted Islam. The Prophet again offered him the milk, but this time he took only one serving and that was sufficient for him. The Prophet then remarked that when he was a non-believer he drank seven times more than what he drank after his accepting Islam. So in this sense, some scholars say that this was not a general remark about every non-believer and believer. This remark was made about a particular person only. (See Tuhfatul Ahwazi Sharh At-Tirmidhi)"

IslamOnline

Moon God?

2007-11-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God" the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Allah is not a foreign god, nor an idol. Millions of Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty. Open up the Arabic bible and see for yourself; the word 'Allah' is mentioned many times on the first page!

The fundamental pillar of faith in Islam is to testify that "there is no deity worthy of worship except the One True Almighty God" (in Arabic: "La ilaha ill Allah").

In the Qur'an, we read that Allah is Compassionate and Merciful. He is Kind, Loving, and Wise. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Healer. He is the One who Guides, the One who Protects, the One who Forgives. There are traditionally ninety-nine names, or attributes, that Muslims use to describe Allah's nature.

Some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language used by Muslims all over the world. Allah is a name that is neither feminine nor masculine, and it cannot be made plural (unlike god, gods, goddess, etc). Muslims believe that there is nothing in the heavens nor on earth that deserves worship except Allah, the One True Creator.

Islam is based on the concept of Tawhid, or Unity of God. Muslims are strictly monotheistic, and fiercely reject any attempt to make God visible or human. Islam rejects any form of idol worship, even if it is an attempt to get "closer" to God, and rejects the Trinity or any attempt to make God human.

"Say, 'He is Allah, the One;
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begets not, and neither is He begotten;
And there is nothing that can be compared to Him."
Qur'an 112:1-4

In Muslim understanding, God is beyond our sight and understanding, yet at the same time "nearer to us than our jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16). Muslims pray directly to God, with no intermediary, and seek guidance from Him alone, because "...Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts" (Qur'an 5:7).

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me,
I am indeed close (to them).
I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me.
Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me,
that they may walk in the right way."
Qur'an 2:186

In the Qur'an, people are asked to look around them for the signs of Allah in the natural world. The balance of the world, the rhythms of life, are "signs for those who would believe." The universe is in perfect order: the orbits of the planets, the cycles of life and death, the seasons of the year, the mountains and the rivers, the mysteries of the human body. This order and balance are not haphazard nor random. The world, and everything in it, has been created with a perfect plan, by the One who knows all.

Islam is a natural faith, a religion of responsibility, purpose, balance, discipline, and simplicity. To be a Muslim is to live your life remembering God and striving to follow His merciful guidance.

Have a read of: Crescent/Moon - What is its significance in Islam?

2. Brief History of the Compilation of the Quran

2007-11-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

During the life of the Prophet (saas) (570-632 CE)

* The Prophet (saas) used to recite the Qur'an before angel Jibreel (Gabriel) once every Ramadan, but he recited it twice (in the same order we have today) in the last Ramadan before his death. Jibreel also taught the Prophet (saas) the seven modes of recitation.

* Each verse received was recited by the Prophet, and its location relative to other verses and surahs was identified by him.

* The verses were written by scribes, selected by the Prophet, on any suitable object - the leaves of trees, pieces of wood, parchment or leather, flat stones, and shoulder blades. Scribes included Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, Ubey Ibn Ka'ab, Zayed Ibn Thabit.

* Some of the companions wrote the Qur'an for their own use.

* Several hundred companions memorized the Qur'an by heart.

During the caliphate of Abu Bakr (632-634 CE)

* Umar Ibn Al-Khattab urged Abu Bakr to preserve and compile the Qur'an. This was prompted after the battle of Yamamah, where heavy casualties were suffered among the reciters who memorized the Qur'an.

* Abu Bakr entrusted Zayed Ibn Thabit with the task of collecting the Qur'an. Zayed had been present during the last recitation of the Qur'an by the Prophet to Angel Jibreel (Gabriel).

* Zayed, with the help of the companions who memorized and wrote verses of the Qur'an, accomplished the task and handed Abu Bakr the first authenticated copy of the Qur'an. The copy was kept in the residence of Hafsah, daughter of Umar and wife of the Prophet.

During the caliphate of Uthman (644-656 CE)

* Uthman ordered Zayed Ibn Thabit, Abdullah Ibn Al Zubayr, Saeed Ibn Al-Aas, and Abdur-Rahman Ibn Harith Ibn Hisham to make perfect copies of the authenticated copy kept with Hafsa. This was due to the rapid expansion of the Islamic state and concern about differences in recitation.

* Copies were sent to various places in the Muslim world. The original copy was returned to Hafsa, and a copy was kept in Madinah.

Crescent/Moon - What is its significance in Islam?

2007-11-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

The crescent moon and star is an internationally-recognized symbol of the faith of Islam. The symbol is featured on the flags of several Muslim countries, and is even part of the official emblem for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Christians have the cross, the Jews have the star of David, and the Muslims have the crescent moon, right?

What is the history behind the crescent moon symbol? What does it symbolize or mean? How and when did it become associated with the faith of Islam? Is it a valid symbol for the faith?
The crescent moon and star symbol actually pre-dates Islam by several thousand years. Information on the origins of the symbol are difficult to ascertain, but most sources agree that these ancient celestial symbols were in use by the peoples of Central Asia and Siberia in their worship of sun, moon, and sky gods.

There are also reports that the crescent moon and star were used to represent the Carthaginian goddess Tanit or the Greek goddess Diana.

The city of Byzantium (later known as Constantinople and Istanbul) adopted the crescent moon as its symbol. According to some reports, they chose it in honor of the goddess Diana. Others indicate that it dates back to a battle in which the Romans defeated the Goths on the first day of a lunar month. In any event, the crescent moon was featured on the city's flag even before the birth of Christ.

The early Muslim community did not really have a symbol. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic armies and caravans flew simple solid-colored flags (generally black, green, or white) for identification purposes. In later generations, the Muslim leaders continued to use a simple black, white, or green flag with no markings, writing, or symbolism on it.

It wasn't until the Ottoman Empire that the crescent moon and star became affiliated with the Muslim world. When the Turks conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, they adopted the city's existing flag and symbol. Legend holds that the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman, had a dream in which the crescent moon stretched from one end of the earth to the other. Taking this as a good omen, he chose to keep the crescent and make it the symbol of his dynasty. There is speculation that the five points on the star represent the five pillars of Islam, but this is pure conjecture. The five points were not standard on the Ottoman flags, and as you will see on the following page, it is still not standard on flags used in the Muslim world today.

For hundreds of years, the Ottoman Empire ruled over the Muslim world. After centuries of battle with Christian Europe, it is understandable how the symbols of this empire became linked in people's minds with the faith of Islam as a whole.

Based on this history, many Muslims reject using the crescent moon as a symbol of Islam. The faith of Islam has historically had no symbol, and many refuse to accept what is essentially an ancient pagan icon. It is certainly not in uniform use among Muslims.

Ahmad Deedat Books - Free Download

2007-10-31T07:28:00.000-07:00

Brief Video Biography of Ahmad Deedat
Sheikh Deedat has authored many books on the title of Comparative religion, click to download, Enjoy:

Muhammad: The Natural Successor to Christ

The truth about Rushdie's 'Satanic Verses'

Christ in Islam

Resurrection of Resuscitation

What the Bible says about Mohammad (pbuh)

What was the Sign of Jona?

Who moved the Stone?

Is the Bible God's Word?

Crucifixion or Crucifiction

Mohammad (phub), The Greatest

Zakir Naik Books - Free Downloads

2007-10-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

A medical doctor by professional training, Dr. Zakir Naik is renowed as a dynamic international orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Qur'an, authentic Hadith and other religious Scriptures as a basis, in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts. Click to download:

Concept of God in Major Religions
Quran and Modern Science - Compatible or Incompatible?
Islam and Terrorism

Scripts of lecture:
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM – MODERNISING OR OUTDATED? – PART-I
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM – MODERNISING OR OUTDATED? – PART-II

Muhammad (pbuh) copied science from the Greeks!

2007-10-31T06:44:00.000-07:00

The following script is taken from a Debate titled: "Quran & bible in the Light of Science". Dr William Campbell claims Mohammad (pbuh) copied the scientific facts from the greeks, Dr Zakir Naik refutes his attempts in the following manner:

The points he raised in embryology besides the one I clarified in my talk - He said that the stages of development were mentioned by Hypocrites and by Gallon, and he showed the various slides. The point to be noted - Just because someone says something, which are matching with the Qur’an, that does not mean that Qur’an has been copied from that. Suppose I make a statement… suppose, if I make a statement, which is correct, which was said by somebody else earlier - That does not mean I have copied. It may be, It may not be.

You may say, ‘Yes! He copied’ - Okay fine - But lets analyze. The Qur’an does not take the things which were wrong from Hypocrites. If he would have copied, he would have copied everything - it is logical. Unless he is a scientist… ‘Okay this is correct… Oh! This is wrong I won’t copy that - This is correct, I will copy that.’ All the stages of Hypocrites, and Gallon is not the same as the Qur’an - Hypocrites and Gallon do not speak about ‘leech like substance.’ They do not speak about ‘mudgah’ at all - Where do they speak? Hypocrites and Gallon, at that time, they said that… ‘Even the women have got semen’ - who says that? - Even the Bible says that. If you read in the Bible, it is mentioned in Leviticus Chapter No.12, Verse No.1 to 12, that woman gives out seed - So actually Bible is copying from Hypocrites. And Bible says in Job, Chapter No.10, Verse No.9 and 10, that… ‘We have made the human beings from clay, like poured out milk and curdled cheese.’ Poured out milk and curdled cheese, is exact plaguerisation from Hypocrites. Why plaguerisation? - Because surely that is not the word of God - That portion is unscientific. It was said by Hypocrites and Gallon, the Greeks, that… ‘Human beings are created like curdled cheese’ - And Bible copies that exactly.

But Qur’an Alhamdulillah, and if you analyze and read the books on ‘Embryology, even of Dr. Keith Moore, he said that… ‘Hypocrites and the other people like Gallon, etc, they did give a lot of thing to embryology, initially, as well as Aristotle’ - Many were right, many were wrong.’ And further he goes to says… ‘In the middle ages, or at the time of the Arabs, the Qur’an speaks about something additional.’ If it was exactly copied, why would Dr. Keith Moore in his book, give due credit to the Qur’an. He even gives due credit to Aristotle, to Hypocrites - but mentioned there… ‘Many were wrong.’ That, he does not mention with the Qur’an. That is enough proof, that Qur’an was not copied from the Greek time.

Regarding ‘light of the moon.’… ‘Light of the moon’ was copied from Greeks. You will tell me that… ‘The world is spherical’ was copied from Greeks. I know the Pthogorous, the Greeks lived in 6th century B.C. who believed that the earth rotated - they believed that the sunlight was reflected. If Prophet Mohammed copied - why did not he copy… they believed the sun was stationary - they believed the sun was the center of the universe. So why did Prophet Mohammed copy the correct thing, and delete the things that were not correct? This is sufficient proof that Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, did not copy. He goes to give a list, that from Greek to Cyriac, Cyriac to Arabic… and big research. One statement of the Qur’an is sufficient to disprove it:

The Qur’an says in Surah Ankabut, Chapter. 29, Verse No.48, that… ‘Thou was not able to recite any book before this, nor was thou able to transcribe with thy right hand.’ If it were so, the talkers of vanity would have surely doubted.’ The Prophet was an ‘ummi.’ - He was an illiterate. This factor of history is sufficient to prove that he did not plagiarize from anywhere. Enough! Imagine! Even a scientist, who is very literate, cannot do this thing. But Allah in his Divine Guidance made the last Prophet, as an ‘ummi’ - So that the talkers of vanity like people who write books against Islam, they cannot open their months.

Sun sets in Murky/Muddy water?

2007-10-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

The following script is taken from a Debate titled: "Quran & bible in the Light of Science". Dr William Campbell attempts to prove Quran has scientific errors, Dr Zakir Naik refutes his attempts in the following manner:

Dr. William Campbell raised a point regarding Surah Kahf Chapter No.18, Verse No.86, that… ‘Zulqarnain sees the sun setting in murky water… in turbid water - Imagine sun setting in murky water… unscientific.’ The Arabic word used here is 'wajada' meaning, ‘it appeared to Zulqarnain.’ And Dr. William Campbell knows Arabic. So 'wajada' means - if you look up in the dictionary also, it means it appeared.’

So Allah (swt) is describing what appeared to Zulqarnain. If I make a statement that… ‘The student in the class said, 2 plus 2 is equal to 5.’ And you say… ‘Oh Zakir said, 2 plus 2 is equal to 5. I did not say. I am telling…‘The student in the class said, 2 plus 2 is equal to 5.’ I am not wrong - The student is wrong. There are various ways to try and analyze this verse. One is this way - according to Muhammad Asad, that 'wajada' means… ‘It appeared to’… ‘It appeared to Zulqarnain.’

Point no.2 - Even if Dr. William Campbell says… ‘No No, the basic assumption is too much - It is not… ‘Appeared to’… it is actually this.’ Let us analyze it further. The Qur'anic verse says… the Sun set in murky water.’ Now we know, when we use these words, like ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’ - does the sunrise? Scientifically, sun does not rise - neither does the sunset. We know scientifically, that the sun does not set at all. It is the rotation of the earth, which gives rise to sunrise and sunset. But yet you read in the everyday papers mentioning, sunrise at 6 a.m. sun sets at 7.00 p.m. Oh! The newspapers are wrong – Unscientific!’

If I use the word ‘Disaster’, Oh! There is a disaster’ – ‘Disaster’ means there is some calamity which has taken place. Literally, ‘disaster’ means ‘an evil star.’ So when I say… ‘This disaster’ every one knows what I mean is ‘a calamity’, not about the evil star.’ Dr. William Campbell and I know, when a person who is mad, we call him a lunatic - Yes or no? At least I do, and I believe Dr. William Campbell also will be doing that.

We call a person ‘a lunatic’ – He is ‘mad.’ What is the meaning of ‘lunatic’? It means… ‘struck by the moon’ - But that is how the language has evolved. Similarly sun rise, is actually, it is just a usage of words. And Allah has given the guidance for the human beings also - He uses so, that we understand. So it is just ‘sunset’ - Not that it is actually setting - Not that sun is actually rising. So this explanation clearly gives us a clear picture, that the Verse of the Qur’an of Surah Kahf, Chapter.18, Verse No 86, is not in contradiction with established science - That is the way how people speak.

Why the Misconceptions?

2007-10-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Islam is the name of a way of life which the Creator wants us to follow. We avoid the word religion because in many non-Islamic societies, there is a separation of "religion and state." This separation is not recognized at all in Islam: the Creator is very much concerned with all that we do, including the political, social, economic, and other aspects of our society. Hence, Islam is a complete way of life.
The source of Islam is Allah, the Creator of everything known and unknown to us. He is One, and He is Unique. Allah has taught us about Islam via two mediums: the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Both the Qur'an and Sunnah were transmitted to us, humanity, via the Messenger of Allah: Muhammad bin Abdullah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (saas). The Messenger of Allah was nothing more and nothing less than a mortal messenger of the immortal Creator.

The Qur'an is a book containing the literal Word of Allah. It was transmitted from Allah to an angel of His (Gabriel), and from the angel to the Messenger of Allah who delivered it to us. The Qur'an covers a wide variety of topics, including evidence to support its claim of being the Word of the Creator, stories of earlier generations, rules which humanity is asked to obey, and information about the Hereafter. The Qur'an claims that it is protected from change by other than Allah, and this is confirmed by its 1400 year history. The earliest copies and the latest copies are the same.

The Sunnah is the term used to describe how the Messenger of Allah (saas) lived his life. The Messenger's life is an example for all Muslims, or those who accept Islam, to follow. Whatever the Messenger (saas) did, said, or approved of is a source of Islam just as much as the Qur'an. The Messenger's role is not overemphasized: his life was dictated by what the Creator desired, and the Messenger did not add or subtract to Islam according to his own personal whim. His life was such that his wife called him "a walking Qur'an."

The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only two mediums by which Allah has directly taught us about Islam. This leads us to the following simple but critical principle:

If any man or woman engages in a belief or action which clearly contradicts the Qur'an or Sunnah, then that belief or action cannot be thought of as `Islamic'.

This rule applies whether the man or woman is Muslim or non-Muslim. Hence, we cannot equate Islam and the Muslims. Islam is the way of life; Muslims are people who claim to follow that way of life. A Muslim may claim to follow Islam, but be wrong. In the context of misconceptions, we can restate the above principle in a slightly different way:

Some misconceptions about Islam are due to the wrong beliefs and actions of Muslims, and others are due to a significant lack of understanding and false stereotyping by non-Muslims.

Several misconceptions are listed below. Instead of simply stating the misconception by itself, we have also included some reasons why people might adopt that misconception.

After each misconception and its possible reasons, we show briefly why the misconception is false by showing one or more of three possibilities:

1. a reason is false

2. the reason does not logically lead to the misconception

3. a key piece of information is being ignored

Our answers to the misconceptions are drawn from the Qur'an and Sunnah. All other approaches are insufficient: Islam is a way of life which is very firmly based on a scholarly approach, an approach which is based on knowledge.

Quran is Word of God

2007-10-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

Muslims are assured for several reasons that the Qur’an is indeed the Word of God. Here are some of the reasons.

1. Physical incapacity. The prophet was physically incapable to write the Qur’an. History has him as an unlettered man who could not write anything more than his own name. How could he write a book?

2. Sincerity. The prophet was morally constrained to tell the truth about the origin of the Qur’an. He was noted to be so honest and trustworthy that even his enemies called him al-Amin (the trustworthy). Moreover, he suffered persecution, refused offers to compromise, and maintained his message for a period of twenty-three years. Historians of religion have to conclude that he was sincere.

3. Psychology. The Qur’an speaks to the prophet, commands him, and even criticizes him. Such contents do not point to the prophet as the self-conscious author. On the other hand, the author declares himself to be the creator of the heavens and the earth.

4. History. The prophet was incapable of writing the Qur’an. The Qur’an details items of history which were not known to the prophet or his contemporaries. And independent studies confirm that the Qur’an was true in what it said.

5. Prophecy. The Qur’an speaks prophetically, detailing what the future holds. Then the future unfolds exactly as foretold. Who could author such a book?

6. Science. The Qur’an draws attention to a wide range of physical phenomena in order to teach moral lessons. The statements were not meant to teach science. Yet modern scientists are amazed at the accuracy of these statements. For example, the Qur’an said things about the growth and development of the human embryo which could not be studied without the use of a microscope. Dr. Keith Moore was professor and chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto. After reviewing the Qur’anic statements he said: ""I am amazed at the accuracy of these statements which were already made in the 7th century AD."" Such knowledge in the Qur’an points to God as its source.

7. Consistency. The Qur’an challenges skeptics to find errors in it, which, if found, would disprove its divine claim. But no one has yet been able to point to a real error in it.

8. Inimitability. A unique feature of the Qur’an is that no one is able to produce a book that would match its beauty, eloquence and wisdom. The Qur’an itself challenges humankind to produce even a chapter like it. But no one has been able to do it.

These eight reasons together form a strong cumulative case in favor of the Qur’an’s divine origin. Hence Muslims can be confident that the belief of Islam, which is based on the Qur’an, is true.

Who are the Terrorists?

2007-10-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media have been given to the threat of "Islamic Fundamentalism". Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word "Islam" has become almost synonymous with "terrorism".

However, when one analyzes the situation, the question that should come to mind is: Do the teachings of Islam encourage terrorism? The answer: Certainly not! Islam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals.

Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a "Muslim terrorist". However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called "Christian terrorists", nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled "Christian terrorism". Also, when right-wing Christians in the U. S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called "Christian terrorists". Reflecting on these facts, one could certainly conclude that there is a double-standard in the media!

Although religious feelings play a significant role in the previously mentioned "Christian" conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity. However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islam itself -- and not the misguided individual. Certainly, Islamic Law allows war --- any religion or civilization that did not would never survive --- but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women or children.

The Arabic word "jihad", which is often translated as "Holy War", simply means "to struggle". The word for "war" in Arabic is "harb", not "jihad". "Struggling", i.e. "making jihad", to defend Islam, Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly forbids "taking the law into your own hands", which means that individual Muslims cannot go around deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture. Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful authority and a knowledgeable judge.

Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time, the peoples in this countries were culturally, materially and religiously exploited - mostly by the so-called "Christian" nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim countries, where people are still under the control of foreign powers or puppet regimes supported by foreign powers.

Through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are "Islamic" leaders -- when just the opposite is true. Neither of these rulers even profess Islam as an ideology, but only use Islamic slogans to manipulate their powerless populations. They have about as much to do with Islam as Hitler had to do with Christianity! In reality, many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being "Islamic" oppress the practice of Islam in their countries. So suffice it to say that "terrorism" and killing innocent people directly contradicts the teachings of Islam.

Islam was spread by the sword - Part 2

2007-10-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

Many non-Muslims, when they think about Islam, picture religious fanatics on camels with a sword in one hand and a Qur'an in the other. This myth, which was made popular in Europe during the Crusades, is totally baseless.
First of all, the Holy Qur'an clearly says "Let there be no compulsion in religion". In addition to this, Islam teaches that a person's faith must be pure and sincere, so it is certainly not something that can be forced on someone.

In debunking the myth that Islam was "spread by the sword", the (non-Muslim) historian De Lacy O' Leary wrote: "History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever accepted." (Islam at the Crossroads, London, 1923, p. 8.).

It should also be known that Muslims ruled Spain for roughly 800 years. During this time, and up to when they were finally forced out, the non-Muslims there were alive and flourishing. Additionally, Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslim lands of the Middle East for centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan all have Christian and/or Jewish populations. If Islam taught that all people are supposed to be killed or forced to become Muslims, how did all of these non-Muslims survive for so long in the middle of the Islamic Empire?

Additionally, if one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islam from Spain and Morocco in the West to India and China in the East, one would realize that they were far too few to force people to be members of a religion against their will. Additionally, the great empire and civilization established by the Muslims had great staying power -- its citizens were proud to be part of it.

The spread of Islam stands in contrast to the actions of the followers of Christianity, who since the time of the Emperor Constantine have made liberal use of the sword - often basing their conduct on Biblical verses. This was especially true of the colonization of South America and Africa, where native peoples were systematically wiped-out or forced to convert.

It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered large portions of the Islamic Empire, instead of destroying the religion, they adopted it. This is a unique occurrence in history - the conquerors adopting the religion of the conquered! Since they were the victors, they certainly could not have been forced to become Muslims! Ask any of the over one billion Muslims alive in the world today whether they were forced! The largest Muslim country in the world today is Indonesia --- and there were never any battles fought there! So where was the sword? How could someone be forced to adhere to a spiritually rewarding and demanding religion like Islam?

Islam is for ARABS only?

2007-10-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Allah (swt) says: O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).(49:13)

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said in his final sermon: All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab is not superior over a non Arab nor a non Arab is superior over an Arab; also a white is not superior over a black nor a black is superior over a white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.

The fastest way to prove that this is completely false is to state the fact that only about 15% to 20% of the Muslims in the world are Arabs. There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims, and more Indonesian Muslims than Indian Muslims! Believing that Islam is only a religion for Arabs is a myth that was spread by the enemies of Islam early in its history. This mistaken assumption is possibly based on the fact that most of the first generation of Muslims were Arabs, the Qur'an is in Arabic and the Prophet Muhammad was an Arab.

However, both the teachings of Islam and the history of its spread show that the early Muslims made every effort to spread their message of Truth to all nations, races and peoples. Furthermore, it should be clarified that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. An Arab can be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist - or of any other religion or ideology. Also, many countries that some people consider to be "Arab" are not "Arab" at all -- such as Turkey and Iran (Persia). The people who live in these countries speak languages other than Arabic as their native tongues and are of a different ethnic heritage than the Arabs.

It is important to realize that from the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, his followers came from a wide spectrum of individuals -- there was Bilal, the African slave; Suhaib, the Byzantine Roman; Ibn Salam, the Jewish Rabbi; and Salman, the Persian. Since religious truth is eternal and unchanging, and mankind is one universal brotherhood, Islam teaches that Almighty God's revelations to mankind have always been consistent, clear and universal. The Truth of Islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality or linguistic background.

Taking a look at the Muslim World, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia to Afghanistan is enough to prove that Islam is a Universal message for all of mankind --- not to mention the fact that significant numbers of Europeans and Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are coming into Islam.

Muslims Worship Muhammad (pbuh)?

2007-10-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

According to Islamic belief, the Prophet Muhammad was the last Messenger of God. He, like all of God's prophets and messengers - such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus -- was only a human being. Christians came to the mistaken assumption that Muslims worship Muhammad by formulating an incorrect analogy - they worship Jesus so they assumed Muslims worship Muhammad. This is one of the reasons that they called Muslims by the incorrect name "Mohammedans" for so many years! Muhammad, like Jesus, never claimed divine status. He called people to worship only Almighty God, and he continually emphasized his humanity so that people would not fall into the same errors as Christians did in regards to Jesus.

In order to prevent his deification, the Prophet Muhammad always said to refer to him as "the Messenger of God and His slave". Muhammad was chosen to be God's final messenger --- to communicate the message not only in words but to be a living example of the message. Muslims love and respect him because he was of the highest moral character and he brought the Truth from God - which is the Pure Monotheism of Islam. Even when Islam was in its very early stages, God revealed that Muhammad "was sent as a mercy to all of mankind" - thus informing us that the message of Islam would become very widespread. Muslims strive to follow the great example of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but they do not worship him in any way. Additionally, Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's prophets and messengers - but respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them.

All true Muslims realize that all worship and prayer must be directed to Almighty God alone. Suffice it to say that worshipping Muhammad --- or anyone else --- along with Almighty God is considered to be the worst sin in Islam. Even if a person claims to be Muslim, but they worship and pray to other than Almighty God, this cancels and nullifies their Islam. The Declaration of Faith of Islam makes it clear that Muslims are taught only to worship God. This declaration is as follows: "There is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, and Muhammad is the Messenger and Servant of God".

Men get Hoor, what do women get?

2007-10-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

According to the Qur'ân when a man enters paradise, he will get hoor, i.e. beautiful maidens. What will a woman have when she enters paradise?
1. Hoor mentioned in the Qur'ân
The word hoor occurs in the Qur’an in no less than four different places:
(1) In Surah Dukhan chapter 44, verse 54 "Moreover, We shall join them to companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes."
[Al-Qur’an 44:54]

(2) In Surah Al-Tur chapter 52 verse 20 "...And We shall join them to companions, with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes."
[Al-Qur’an 52:20]

(3) In Surah Rahman chapter 55 verse 72 "Companions restrained (as to their glances), in goodly pavilions."
[Al-Qur’an 55:72]

(4) In Surah Al-Waqiah chapter 56 verse 22 "And (there will be) companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes."
[Al-Qur’an 56:22]

2. Hoor Translated as Beautiful Maidens
Many translators of the Qur’an have translated the word hoor as ‘beautiful maidens’ especially in the Urdu translations. If hoor means ‘beautiful maidens’ or girls, then they are meant only for the men. Hence, what will the women get if they enter Paradise?

3. Meaning of Hoor
The word hoor is actually the plural of ahwar (applicable to man) and of haura (applicable to woman) and signifies a person having eyes characterized by hauar a special quality bestowed upon a good soul, male or female in paradise and it denotes the intense whiteness of the white part of the spiritual eye.

The Qur’an describes in several other verses that in paradise you will have azwaj which mean a pair or spouse or companion which means you will have spouses or companions pure and holy (mutaharratun means pure, holy).

"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits there from, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before", for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (forever)". [Al-Qur’an 2:25]

"But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall soon admit to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath – their eternal home; therein shall they have companions pure and holy: we shall admit them to shades, cool and ever deepening". [Al-Qur’an 4:57]

Therefore the word hoor has no specific gender. Mohammad Asad has translated the word hoor as spouse and Abdullah Yusuf Ali as companion. Therefore according to some scholars a man in paradise will have a hoor that is a beautiful maiden with beautiful big and lustrous eyes and a woman in paradise will get a man with beautiful big and lustrous eyes.

4. Women will get something exceptional in Paradise
Many scholars say that in context, the word hoor used in the Qur’an refers only to ladies since gents are addressed. A reply that would be accepted by all types of people would rather be the answer given in the Hadeeth when a similar question was posed that if a man gets a hoor, a beautiful Maiden in Paradise, then what will the women get? The reply was that the women will get that which the heart has not desired for, the ear hasn’t heard off and the eye hasn’t seen, indicating that even the women will get something exceptional in Paradise.

Is Allah (swt) Forgiving, or Revengeful?

2007-10-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

1. Allaah is most Merciful
The Qur’an says several times that Allah is the most Merciful. In fact all the 114 Surahs i.e. chapters of the Glorious Qur’an except for Surah Taubah chapter 9, begin with the beautiful formula, Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim, which means, "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful".
2. Allaah is Forgiving
The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses including Surah Nisa, chapter 4 verse 25 and Surah Maidah, chapter 5 verse 74: "And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

3. Allah gives severe punishment to the deserving
Allah besides being Merciful and Forgiving is also strict in giving punishment to the deserving. The Qur’an mentions in several verses that Allah will give severe punishment to the unbelievers and rejecters of faith. He will give punishment to all those who disobey Him. Several verses of the Qur’an describe the various types of severe punishment that Allah will give in hell to all those who disobey.

"Those who reject our Signs, we shall soon cast into the Fire; as often as their skins Are roasted through, we shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allaah is Exalted in Power, Wise". [Al-Qur’an 4:56]

4. Allaah is Just
The question is, whether Allaah is forgiving or revengeful? An important point to be noted is that Allaah besides being Merciful and Forgiving, He also has to give severe punishment to the deserving wicked or evil people, because He is also Just. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Nisa: "Allaah is never unjust in the least degree". [Al-Qur’an 4:40]

It is further mentioned in Surah Al-Ambiya: "We shall set up scales of justice for the day of Judgement, so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. And if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed, we will bring it (to account): and enough are we to take account". [Al-Qur’an 21:47]

5. Example: Teacher forgives a student who copies in the examination
If during an examination, a student copies and the teacher who supervises in the examination catches the student red-handed, the teacher says that he is very merciful and kind and forgives him and allows him to continue copying. Those students who have worked hard for the examination will not call the teacher merciful and kind but will call him unjust. This merciful act of the teacher will encourage the other students to also copy. If all the teachers are merciful and kind and allow the students to copy then no student will ever study for examinations and all will pass with flying colours by copying. The theoretical results of the examinations will be excellent in which all the students will pass with first class and distinction but practically these students will be a failure in life. The whole purpose of the examination would be defeated.

6. This Life is a Test for the Hereafter
The life in this world is a test for the Hereafter. The Qur’an says in Surah Al Mulk: "He who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving". [Al-Qur’an 67:2]

7. If Allaah forgives all and punishes none, who will obey him?
If Allaah (swt) forgives each and every human being and punishes no one, then why should the human beings obey the command of Allah (swt)? I do agree that no one will go to hell, but this world would become hell to live in. If all human beings are going to go to heaven then what is the purpose and use of the human beings to come to this world, this life cannot be called a test for the hereafter.

8. Allaah only forgives if a person repents
Allaah (swt) only forgives if a person repents. The Qur’an says in Surah Al-Zumar, chapter 39 verse 53-55:
"Say: ‘O my servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah: for Allaah forgives all sins for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

"Turn ye to your Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (will), before the penalty comes on you - after that ye shall not be helped."

"And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the penalty comes on you - of a sudden, while ye perceive not!" [Al-Qur’an 39:53-55]

There are four criteria for repentance:
First, agree that the act is wrong.
Secondly, stop it immediately.
Thirdly, never do it again in future.
And lastly, compensate for the loss if caused to anyone.