Why Islam?

Pulling the Heads out of the Anuses of the staff at the ReligionofPeace.com

2011-10-26T21:19:00.037-04:00

Responding to the Article entitled “Islamic Terror Attacks on American Soil”
Written by: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee

Introduction and an Examination of the Frivolous

I recently came across a hilariously Islamophobic article entitled “Islamic Terror Attacks on American Soil” in which a rather bewildered and misinformed author alleges that since April, 14th 1972 up until April, 14th 2010 there have been 67 Islamic Terror Attacks in America with victims numbering close to 3,098! In a vain and weak attempt to try and prove the existence of such attacks, a reckless account is provided that details the date, the city and state of the attack, the amount of Americans killed and wounded, along with a vague description of each act of violence, all of which provides absolutely no reference sources from where this data was collected. (1)

After reading the article I decided to look into his spider web of a claim and verify as much as I possibly could. As I began to read the sketchy details of each alleged ‘terror attack’ I soon discovered an alarming fact…the overwhelming majority of these attacks were not really ‘terror attacks’ per se, but rather homicides that had been committed at the hand of someone who happened to ‘be’ an American Muslim. Upon further inspection I also discovered that 16 of these so-called ‘terror attacks’ also included victims that were Muslims themselves!

For example, the author states that on November, 25th 1973, and I quote, “a grocer is killed in his store by Nation of Islam terrorists”. After researching this alleged ‘terror attack’, I was able to verify that this was in reality one ‘homicide’ of many ‘serial killings’ that had been committed in Northern California during the early 70s by members of the Nation of Islam cult.(2) The victim, Saleem “Sammy” Erekat was a 53 year-old Arab Muslim who had emigrated from Jordan to the United States many years ago!(3) This was cleverly hidden by the author to give the impression that a ‘deranged Muslim terrorist’ (none other than a member of a sick racist cult with no ties to Islam and Muslims) walked into a corner store and through ‘terrorist methods’ (none other than your standard everyday American homicide that occurs all of the time in the streets of the U.S.) killed an ‘innocent White American man’ (none other than an innocent law-abiding light-skinned Arab-American Muslim).

I also want to point out that eighteen of the homicides included in the author’s spreadsheet were carried out by members of the Nation of Islam cult, a group that does not even believe in Islamic Orthodox beliefs and practices.(4) Attributing them to Islam and Muslims is like attributing Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan to Christianity and Christians!

The author has taken it upon himself to define homicide as a ‘terror attack’ on the sole basis that the perpetrator was Muslim, and that the victim was an American, killed on American soil. I wonder if the author applies the same definition to American Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, and Pagans who commit ‘terror attacks’ everyday in the streets of the U.S.??? How true are the words of the journalist who wrote:

“There are many hypocrites among Christian leaders, but unlike other religions, Islam is routinely linked with violence in news reports and articles. Religious identification rarely occurs when awful deeds occur at the hands of people of other faiths. News accounts never identified the slaughter of Kosovar Albanians as killings by Eastern Orthodox Serbs, of Burmese as killings by Buddhists, or of Palestinians as killings by Jews. Perpetrators are routinely identified by nationality, not religious affiliation – except when they are Muslims. Violent Christians are not seen as discrediting Christianity. But if any Muslim does wrong, it is invariably reported as an element in an ‘Islamic Threat to America’. When we pause and reflect on the venom of the ‘Jewish’ state that invades Lebanon and kills thousands, that bombs Palestinian homes and transfers Palestinians from their homeland, we resist the temptation of thinking that Judaism has any violent or intolerant underpinning. Definitely a double standard applies here, in which Islam is blamed for international conflicts.”(5)

Even more absurd is the author mischievously listing the December, 2nd 2003 death of a Jewish patient, who was accused of deliberately being untreated by his Muslim doctor, as a ‘terror attack’! If this is considered a ‘terror attack’ then I guess Julie Pierce has enough weight to take First-Health Healthcare’s board of trustees to court and have them charged with a ‘terror attack’ on her husband on the basis that he was deliberately denied treatment for his kidney cancer just because he was black!(6)

It is also interesting to note here that since 1972 up until 2009 approximately 740,283 Americans have been murdered violently on American soil at the hands of their fellow Americans!(7) This surpasses the 2,982 people who have lost their lives from the four so-called ‘Islamic terror attacks on American soil’!(8)

Defending Islam from Extremist Ideologies

The Major Scholars of the Muslim world have been speaking out against terrorism and extremism way before the attacks of September 11th. Collecting all of their statements and religious rulings would result in the production of volumes of books on this topic. Due to lack of time, I have included an appendix which will reference some very beneficial sites, e-books, and books for the beginner who is interested in knowing the true stance in Islam regarding terrorism and extremism. The following are some statements that will suffice in this small article:

“…From that which is known to anyone who has the slightest bit of common sense, is that hijacking airplanes and kidnapping children and the like are extremely great crimes, the world over. Their evil effects are far and wide, as is the great harm and inconvenience caused to the innocent; the total effect of which none can comprehend except Allah. Likewise, from that which is known is that these crimes are not specific to any particular country over and above another country, nor any specific group over and above another group; rather, it encompasses the whole world. There is no doubt about the effect of these crimes; so it is obligatory upon the governments and those responsible from amongst the scholars and others to afford these issues great concern, and to exert themselves as much as possible in ending this evil.”(9)

“…Likewise, I invite you to have respect for those people who have the right that they should be respected, from those between you and whom there is an agreement. For the land in which you are living is such that there is an agreement between you and them. If this were not the case, they would have killed you or expelled you. So preserve this agreement, and do not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the hypocrites, and it is not from the way of the believers. And know that it is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said: (Whoever kills one who is under the agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.) Do not be deceived by the sayings of the foolish people who say, “Those people are not Muslims, so their wealth is lawful for us.” For I swear by Allah – this is a lie; a lie about Allah’s religion, and a lie that Islamic societies (hold this to be true). So we may not say that it is lawful to be treacherous towards people who we have an agreement with. O my brothers. O youth. O Muslims. Be truthful in your buying and selling, and renting, and leasing, and in all mutual transaction. Because truthfulness is from the characteristics of the Believers, and Allah, the Most High, has commanded truthfulness: {O you who believe-keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful.} And the Prophet encouraged truthfulness and said: (Adhere to truthfulness, because truthfulness leads to goodness, and goodness leads to Paradise; and a person will continue to be truthful, and strive to be truthful, until he will be written down with Allah as a truthful person.) And he warned against falsehood and said: (Beware of falsehood, because falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. And a person will continue lying and striving to lie until he is written down with Allah as a great liar.) O my brother Muslims. O youth. Be true in your sayings with your brothers, and with those non-Muslims whom you live along with- so that by your actions, you will be inviters to the religion of Islam –in reality. And indeed, how many people first entered into Islam because of the behavior and manners of the Muslims, and their truthfulness, and their being true in their dealings.”(10)

“…Hijacking planes, terrorizing innocent people, and shedding blood, constitute a form of injustice that cannot be tolerated by Islam, which views them as gross crimes and sinful acts.”(11)

“…Kidnapping non-Muslims and killing them is a heinous crime which amounts to treason against Islam and a betrayal of what it teaches.”(12)

“…Islam came to protect the interests of humanity, prevent evils and build bridges with all communities. It offers a great message of mercy and tolerance.”(13)

Did We forget about the other ‘Religious Terror Attacks’ in Our own Backyard?

All of this rhetoric about ‘Islamic terror attacks and Muslims’ in America and not once did the author mention the other more hardcore religious domestic terrorists who fill the streets with violence and fear. The following ‘terrorist groups’ pose just as much threat to the country if not more:

• Street gangs and Prison gangs- Whether street gangs or prison gangs these groups are responsible for a considerable amount of ‘religious terror attacks’ that occur throughout the United States. Many of them tattoo crucifixes, images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, and other religious icons all over their bodies to mark their gang affiliations. In their neighborhoods large murals with images of the Virgin Mary and other saints accompany the names of their dead ‘homies’, fallen comrades laid to rest. Rosaries are worn to protect the gang member from the evils of rival gangs and law enforcement. Initiation into many prison gangs entails taking an oath to the Almighty and vowing a ‘blood in, blood out’ allegiance. Major cities such as Los Angeles report an average of 347 to 587 gang-related homicides a year,(14) while smaller more suburban cities like Oklahoma City report an average of 210 a year!(15)

• Cartels-These guys make Usamah bin Ladin look like Pee-wee Herman. They decapitate, bomb, torture, maim, and terrorize anyone in their way “and then they pray”(16). The violence is now spilling into the U.S. (17) and its members have strongholds in cities such as Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA.(18) When one of their own is killed and buried, the deceased is proclaimed a “Narco saint” and a shrine is erected over the grave where large groups of worshippers go to seek protection from the clutches of other rival cartels.(19)

• Serial Killers – David “the Son of Sam” Berkowitz, Jeffrey “the Wisconsin Cannibal” Dahmer, Wayne Williams, and Ted Bundy are just some of the more famous names of American serial killers. The U.S. leads the world in serial killers (20); we even have a critically acclaimed series that glorifies such killings! How many of these guys were Christian, Jew, Buddhist, or even Atheist???

• Christian terrorists-“Since 1977 there have been 305 completed or attempted bombings and arsons”(21) on American soil carried out by Christian terrorists (such as the Army of God). Racist preachers such as Pat Robertson and John Hagee go unchecked spewing their clear venom of hatred and bigotry. One of their preachers stated, “I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good…Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a Biblical duty, we are called by God, to conquer this country. We don’t want equal time. We don’t want pluralism"(22). The biggest and oldest Christian terrorist group is the Ku Klux Klan which is responsible for thousands of ‘terror attacks’ against African-Americans since its inception in the mid 1800s up until our current times.

• Jewish terrorists- According to the FBI, Jewish terrorist groups such as the late Meier Kahane’s(23) Jewish Defense League (JDL) have been implicated and responsible for many bombings coast to coast.(24) ‘Terror attacks’ such as the 1972 bombing of a New York talent agency and the 1985 bombing of Alex Odeh, regional director and human rights activist of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in California.(25) These groups take radical advise from their Rabbis, statements such as those from Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira who said, “Non-Jews are “uncompassionate by nature” and should be killed in order to “curb their evil inclinations” and, “There is justification for killing babies (non-Jewish) if it is clear that they will grow up to harm us (Jews), and in such a situation they may be harmed deliberately, and not only during combat with adults”(26). And Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, director of the Tsomet Institute, a long established religious institute attended by students and soldiers in the Zionist settlements of the West Bank, who said, “All of the Palestinians must be killed; men, women, infants, and even their beasts.”(27)

If one took up the task of collecting all of the data on the ‘terror attacks’ committed by the aforementioned religious terrorist groups, that number will far surpass the 2,982 people who have lost their lives from the four so-called ‘Islamic terror attacks on American soil’!

Did We forget about the U.S. ‘Terror Attacks’ launched on Other Nations?

Since the staff at thereligionofpeace.com enjoys playing the numbers and the blame game let’s take a look at some real statistics. Below is a list of U.S. ‘religious and ideological terror attacks’ launched on other countries beginning from the 50s up until the 90s. This in no way accurately conveys the other ‘religious and ideological terror attacks’ that our country launched against the African slaves and their ancestors, the Native Americans, my ancestors the Mexicans, and the Chinese, that were committed from the late 1700s up until World War II. As American citizens, none of this information should make us upset or cause us to deny the truth of our past. This very information is what we are taught in public schools throughout the United States during ‘American’ and ‘World’ history classes.(28)

A Final Challenge for the Staff at thereligionofpeace.com

I now challenge the author, the demagogic spin doctor at thereligionofpeace.com, to equally create separate websites condemning all other forms of ‘terror attacks’ perpetuated by serial killers, Jewish and Christian terrorist groups, racist militias and skinheads, street and prison gangs, in addition to the Mexican cartels, all of whom equally plague the United States. Let’s see if you can use the same misappropriated enthusiasm that you exert upon Islam and innocent Muslims to do something positive and beneficial for a change. Why not start a website educating kids of the dangers of joining gangs and gang violence complete with statistics of those killed in gang-related homicides every day? You can call it www.mysonisaquadriplegicbecauseofgangviolence.com!

Conclusion

Upon completion of my own findings, I came to the conclusion that the number of ‘terror attacks’ as alleged by the author is nowhere near 67 (even though the spreadsheet lists 58) but only 4, and the correct number of lives lost was 2,982. I have separately included my rendition of the spreadsheet which includes three more tabs: Type of Muslim, Type of Crime, and What was Victim. This will allow one to see how I was able to correctly re-classify each ‘terror attack’ claim and then compute an accurate representation of the crimes committed.

Are Suicide Missions permissible in Islam?

2011-09-24T18:05:00.003-04:00

Question: Are suicide missions permissible? And are there conditions for this act to be considered correct?

Answer: Allah, the Glorious and Lofty says: {Do not kill yourselves. Indeed Allah is merciful to you. Whoever does such a thing has committed transgression and oppression and we will cause him to be cast into the hellfire. That is easy for Allah to do.} an-Nisaa’a: 29-30

This includes a person killing himself and others without any right. Therefore it is not permissible for a person to commit suicide, rather he must take care of himself with the utmost care. This does not prevent him from fighting in the path of Allah and killing in His path even if he were to be killed and martyred. This is something good.

As for intentionally killing himself through suicide missions then this is not permissible. In the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, during some of the battles a brave person amongst them fought alongside the Prophet, peace be upon him then he was killed. The people began to praise him for his bravery. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: (He is in the hellfire.) This was before he died. The companions were struck by this statement, how could the likes of this brave person who fought and did not leave fighting the non-Muslims to the point that he would hunt them down and kill them, how was he in the hellfire?

So one of them went to him and watched over him after he had been wounded. Then he saw him take the handle of his sword and place it on the ground and pointed the blade upward. He placed himself on the blade and let it enter his chest until it came out from his back and he died. This companion then affirmed what the Messenger, peace be upon him, said. They then realized that the Messenger did not speak from desires.

So why did he enter hellfire? Because, he intentionally killed himself and was not patient, this is why it is not permissible to commit suicide.

Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdullah al-Fawzaan, Member of the Major Scholars and Permanent Committee for Religious Rulings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Translated by Aboo ‘Imraan ‘Abdus-Saboor ibn Tomas Maldonado al-Mekseekee

Is it Permissible to Kill Americans?

2011-08-13T19:28:00.003-04:00

Question: There is one who has given an Islamic ruling that it is permissible to kill Americans all over the world since they are combatants! What do you say about this?

Answer: The one who has given this ruling is ignorant. There is detail concerning this issue. Those who we have granted entry and who have entered our country (Saudi Arabia) are under a covenant and trust. Those who reside and work due to a necessity we have from them, they are under our protection. It is not permissible to betray them or kill them. The countries that we have a mutual covenant with and diplomatic representation, it is not permissible to betray them. The non-Muslims who enter our country with our permission (through Visas, Residency permits, etc.) it is not permissible to betray them. The Most High says:

{ And if anyone of the disbelievers seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Quraan), and then escort him to where he can be secure.} at-Tawbah:6

Therefore it is not permissible to betray those who entered the lands of the Muslims after having been given permission by the Ruler to enter or by the Muslims who have allowed entry. This type of ruling is not permissible. The combatant is the one who does not have a covenant or trust between us, this is the combatant.

Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdullah al-Fawzaan, Member of the Major Scholars and Permanent Committee for Religious Rulings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Translated by Aboo ‘Imraan ‘Abdus-Saboor ibn Tomas Maldonado al-Mekseekee

Is it Permissible to Hijack Planes, Blow up Buildings, and Revolt against the Rulers?

2011-08-13T16:23:00.004-04:00

Question: Is it permissible to hijack airplanes, blow up buildings, and establish revolts and revolutions? Are these actions considered to be from the spirit of Islam?

Answer: These actions are considered destructive and Islam forbids them. All kinds of evil have befallen the Muslims because the non-Muslims have taken these actions (done by some Muslims) as evidence to assault and destroy them. This is why the non-Muslims have justified blaming Islam because they attribute it with being a religion of terrorism. They have done this due to these measures.

By Allah, the Glorious and Majestic, He has commanded to strive and fight against the non-Muslims but only under leadership, under the Islamic state, under the state of the Muslims.

As for the issues of bombings, chaos, and hijackings, then Islam prohibits this because it causes harm against the Muslims and others, and because it is harmful and unbeneficial.

Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan bin ‘Abdullah al-Fawzaan, Member of the Major Scholars and Permanent Committee for Religious Rulings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Translated by Aboo ‘Imraan ‘Abdus-Saboor ibn Tomas Maldonado al-Mekseekee

Must Read Study for Muslims and non-Muslims alike! Body Count

2011-05-16T18:17:00.004-04:00

This publication quantifies the human death toll of religious and political violence throughout the last two millennia and relates these to religio-cultural civilizations.

Click on Link to Download

Click Here for the Arabic PDF

O Christ-worshipers! A Poem

2011-05-16T07:39:00.000-04:00

How Sharia Law benefited a non-Muslim American Spy

2011-04-16T14:29:00.003-04:00

While biased Americans protest the growing American Muslim presence and their Islamophobia of ‘Sharia law’ being implemented in the United States, one non-Muslim American has benefited from the very Islamic law his countrymen vehemently speak out against.

On January 27, 2011 CIA operative Raymond Davis (or the name he used but was later deemed by the US State Department as being incorrect) shot and killed two agents of Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). As there are two sides to every story, Davis claims he was attacked by the men and acted in self-defense while the Pakistani authorities claim that based on their eyewitnesses, video, and forensics, Mr. Davis committed cold blooded murder and even knew his victims.

Whatever the real story maybe, two people were killed and another was run over. America demanded Davis’ release because they stated that he had ‘diplomatic immunity’ (in other words, the United States government has the right to kill without any consequences) and was innocent of his charges.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stepped in and paid ‘blood money’ to the families on behalf of the United States and the charges were dropped and Mr. Davis was released.

Click on the link below:

http://www.businessinsider.com/blackboard/raymond-davis

Here is the BBC’s (Bringing Biased Coverage) sorry excuse for a story as well:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12769714

Interesting Video: Early Christian Manuscripts regarding Prophet Jesus

2011-04-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

Jewish Rabbi admits Islam is the Oldest Religion

2011-04-15T16:58:00.002-04:00

Compare this with the beginning of the treatise by Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab in his work, Kashf-ush-Shubuhaat (the Removal of the Doubts), where he says:

“In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, Every-Merciful (to His believing servants). Know, may Allah have mercy upon you, that Tawheed (Monotheism) is to single out Allah, free is He from all imperfections, with all forms of worship and this is the religion of the Messengers sent by Allah to His servants.

The first of them was Noah, Allah sent him to his people when they exaggerated the status of the righteous people such as Wadd, Suwaa, Yaghuth, Ya’uq and Nasr. And the last of the Messengers was Muhammad, peace be upon them all. He smashed the statues of these righteous people. Allah sent him to a people who were given to devotion and worship, would make the pilgrimage, give charity and remember Allah often.

However, they made some of the creatures into intermediaries between themselves and Allah, and they would say “we seek nearness to Allah from them” and “we seek their intercession from them with Allah”. Such creatures included the angels, Jesus, Mary and others from among the righteous people.

So Allah sent Muhammad, peace be upon him, so that he would revive for them the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, and so that he would inform them that this nearness and this belief that they held and directed through the creatures is the sole right of Allah, and that it does not befit anyone besides Allah, neither a near angel nor a messenger that was sent, aside from the Creator alone, with whom there is no partner.

Also that none sustains and provides but He, that none gives life but He, that none causes to die but He, that none controls the affairs but Him and that all of the seven heavens and whatever is within them, the seven earths and whatever is within them are all subservient to Allah and under His command and His compelling power.”

And Allah knows best.

An Interesting Quote from Josephus about Prophet Jesus

2011-03-31T13:13:00.003-04:00

I read Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus some time back when I found it in my mother’s small home library. I came across a chapter dealing with writings from Josephus. Mr. Strobel was trying to find reliable sources outside the New Testament to prove the historical existence for Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. (For Muslims, this is not a problem, the words of Allah in the Quran and the prophetic narrations of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are sufficient enough for us to believe that Prophet Jesus existed.) Josephus was a Jewish historian born in 37 C.E. and author of the well known The Antiquities, a history of the Jewish people from Creation until the time he lived in. It was completed around 93 C.E. To me it is comparable to many Islamic works such as the great Muslim scholar Ibn Katheer’s al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah which chronicles Islam from the time of Creation up until Ibn Katheer’s time, and goes on to cite the prophetic narrations that deal with future Islamic prophecy. He died around 1373 C.E. in Damascus, Syria, may Allah have mercy upon him.

I myself only read about Josephus in encyclopedias when I was a child, but I never read what he actually wrote about Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. What I found intriguing was Mr. Strobel’s interview with a world renowned Bible scholar Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew and Hellenistics, and a master’s and doctoral degree in Mediterranean studies from Brandeis University. This guy studied twenty-two languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Egyptian, Russian, Syriac, Ugaritic, and even Comanche.

He has lectured at more than one hundred seminaries, universities, and colleges; served as chairman and president of the Institute for Biblical Research and president of the Conference on Faith and History; and published eighty articles in thirty-seven scholarly journals. He also participated in the first excavations of the Herodian temple in Jerusalem. So the man is considered pretty high-powered in the Christian world.

When Mr. Strobel asked him about the passage he wrote concerning Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, his quote of the text and his brief commentary on it shocked me. He read the following from The Antiquities:

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to live, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”

Dr. Yamauchi then goes on to say the following, “Scholarship has gone through three trends about it (the passage quoted above). For obvious reasons, the early Christians thought it was a wonderful and thoroughly authentic attestation of Jesus and his resurrection. They loved it. Then the entire passage was questioned by at least some scholars during the Enlightenment. But today there’s a remarkable consensus among both Jewish and Christian scholars that the passage as a whole is authentic, although there may be some interpolations. That means early Christian copyists inserted some phrases that a Jewish writer like Josephus would not have written.

For instance, the first line says, ‘About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man.’ That phrase is not normally used of Jesus by Christians, so it seems authentic for Josephus. But the next phrase says, ‘if indeed one ought to call him a man.’ This implies Jesus was more than human, which appears to be an interpolation. It goes on to say, ‘For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks.’ That seems to be quite in accord with the vocabulary Josephus uses elsewhere, and it’s generally considered authentic. But then there’s this unambiguous statement, ‘He was the Christ.’ That seems to be an interpolation.

It’s unlikely Josephus would have flatly said Jesus was the Messiah here, when elsewhere he merely said he was considered to be the Messiah by his followers. The next part of the passage –which talks about Jesus’ trial and crucifixion and the fact that his followers still loved him- is unexceptional and considered genuine. Then there’s this phrase: ‘On the third day he appeared to them restored to life.’ Again, this is a clear declaration of belief in the Resurrection, and thus it’s unlikely that Josephus wrote it. So these three elements seem to have been interpolations…the passage in Josephus probably was originally written about Jesus, although without those three points I mentioned.

But even so, Josephus corroborates important information about Jesus: that he was the martyred leader of the church in Jerusalem and that he was a wise teacher who had established a wide and lasting following, despite the fact that he had been crucified under Pilate at the instigation of some of the Jewish leaders.” End of Dr. Yamauchi’s quote.

This is the text with the three interpolated statements highlighted:

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”

This is the text without the three interpolated statements:

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”

In Conclusion, these are the following points of benefit that I understood about this quote, and Allah knows best:

One: Prophet Jesus was considered a wise man not a god, one who did surprising things like miracles, and a teacher who was loved and respected, not worshiped. This coincides with the Quran and what Allah tells us about him, peace be upon him.

Two: The early Christian copyists tampered with texts to suit their own beliefs and desires concerning Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him as we are informed by Allah in the Quran regarding their behavior of interpolation.

Three: Josephus was born thirty-seven years after the ascent of Prophet Jesus to heaven, he did not know, meet, or ever see any of those close to Prophet Jesus such as his apostles, or Paul. In another part of The Antiquities, Dr. Yamauchi quotes the following passage about Prophet Jesus’ brother James, “He (the high priest Ananias) convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus, who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered then up to be stoned.”

Four: Josephus does not mention the charge for crucifixion or any other details concerning it.

Five: Josephus did not mention the Gospels or any of the early Christian writings or mention the existence of a separate building of worship known as a ‘church’.

Lineage of the Prophet Muhammad-peace be upon him

2011-03-28T19:17:00.001-04:00

Your Shahadah Story #8

2011-03-27T14:05:00.003-04:00

Your name: Vincent Ortmann Jr

How long have you been Muslim? Since March 4, 2011

Has Islam changed your life? In what way?

My call to Islam wasn't a choice I ever would have thought I would make. I never knew what Islam represented. Everything I knew about Islam was based on the media’s portrayal of Islam and Muslims. Never did I take the time to investigate whether everything they said was true or false. Whatever was shown on the news, I absorbed it and that's how I viewed it. I was your typical ignorant human being (As someone called me). I confused Indian people who wore turbans as terrorist. I was so influenced by this propaganda that I could not differentiate between Indians or Muslims.

I worked with a brother name Ismail for many years. He is an Egyptian Muslim. I was confused because I went by what I was told about Muslims but Ismail had to be the most peaceful person I ever met, so kind with words and a gentleman to the world. We both worked the same hours and I would see him pray in the morning in front of my locker but I never disturbed him nor did I ask him to move. I didn't understand why he was praying every morning. I never questioned why he would pray but I was curious. I must explain that I had an "I don't care about anything" attitude so it was surprising to me when I would wait for him to finish before going to my locker. Perhaps a year went by, I still didn’t ask or try to find out why Ismail was the way he was. The thought would enter my head but fade away as quickly.

Sometime later I joined an EMS Volunteer squad, and I met a Muslim sister. I noticed that while everyone watched TV, joked, and hung out she would excuse herself and say "I have to pray". She would lay down a mat and cover her head and start to pray. This would be at different times and I still didn’t understand what was going on and why this was being done. I thought it was funny at first and teased her about it. She had a great sense of humor so she took it lightly. I never felt right asking Ismail the questions I had. I always felt I would be disrespecting him if I did. So I finally decided to ask “The Sister” what are you doing and why? She opened up my mind and I was stunned to know what Islam really meant. I was so confused at the time because what she was telling me wasn’t the information I knew. Still I was skeptical and sometimes asked ridiculous questions or debated about issues on TV concerning Islam. She was patient and explained things but one day while debating the mosque issue, she called me "ignorant" and said it wasn't my fault I didn't know better but it was my fault that I wasn't seeing the bigger picture or listening to the other side as there are two sides to every story.

It shocked me that she called me that and shocked me more that I was embarrassed about it. I decided to rethink everything and come to a conclusion. Here are two peaceful people, living here, going above and beyond for anyone who needed help. They are the opposite of what Muslims "are supposed to be".

From there I did my research, I GOOGLED every question I could think of and read all I could about Islam, the pros and cons. I found tons of information to read from. Learning about the religion, different races, and understanding why they followed Islam’s teachings. After reading so much I was inspired to learn more, I could not absorb it fast enough. The more I read the more sense it made.

I found a Islamic Center around my area and began emailing them with questions, so one afternoon I decided to go to this center. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to except. I entered into this center and I was greeted (As-Salaamu Aliakum). I had no idea what this meant so I didn’t know what to say. I said to them that my name is Vincent and I have been emailing you to learn more about Islam. I have never seen people so happy to have someone like myself who didn’t know anything about Islam to come and ask for information about it. I was offered fruits and drinks, that there surprised me. In the back of my head I was thinking I've never seen people in my church so happy that I’m here or offered anything. From that day on I wanted to learn more. They gave me literature to read and if I had any question please don’t hesitate to call and ask for help. I was just amazed by this. Here are people who don't know me but are offering to help in anything I need.

Many months of learning and listening to lectures changed my life, my family and non-Muslim friends said they had noticed changes in me. Good changes. I knew that Allah had this path for me. I realized there could be no other truth but Islam. Still the "Brothers and Sister" told me to think about my decision and make sure it was what I wanted. I knew that I was never this sure about anything else in my life. On March 4, 2011 I took my Sahadah (Ash-hadu An laa Elaha Ella Allah wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammad an (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) Rasullo Allah.) May Allah Award my efforts as I relay his message to all and as I follow my messenger to one. IinshaAllah I will seek and earn paradise. Ameen.

Speech that is Disliked is the Speech that does not mention Allah

2011-03-23T15:40:00.000-04:00

وَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ أنَّهُ بَلَغَهُ أنَّ عِيْسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ : لاَ تُكْثِرُواْ الكَلاَمَ بِغَيْرِ ذِكْرِ اللهِ فَتَقْسُوَ قُلُوبُكُمْ فَإنَّ القَلْبَ القَاسِي بَعِيْدٌ مِنَ اللهِ وَلَكِنْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ وَ لاَ تَنْظُرُواْ فِي ذُنُوبِ النَّاسِ كَأَنَّكُمْ أرْبَابٌ وَ انْظُرُواْ فِي ذُنُوبِكُمْ كَأنَّكُمْ عَبِيْدٌ فَإنَّمَا النَّاسُ مُبْتَلًى وَ مُعَافًى فَارْحَمُواْ أهْلَ البَلاَءِ وَ احْمَدُواْ اللهَ عَلَى العَافِيَةِ

It was related by Imam Maalik that Jesus the son of Mary, peace be upon him, used to say, “Do not be open winded when you speak without mentioning God, causing your hearts to be covered up. Indeed the covered heart is distant from God, but you do not understand. Do not look at the people’s sins as if you are lords over them, look at your own sins as if you were slaves. Mankind is afflicted with sin and forgiven of sin, so have mercy on the people afflicted with sins and praise God for His pardoning of sins.”

Al-Muwattaa of Imam Maalik, under the Baab 3: Maa Yakrahu min al-Kalaam bi-ghair Dhikrillah (What is disliked is the speech that does not mention God) from Kitaab al-Kalaam, book 56. It is Mursal from al-‘Alaa bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan bin Ya’qoob from his father from Aboo Hurayrah. It was related by Muslim in book 45 Kitaab al-Birr was-Silah wal-Aadaab and Baab Tahreem al-Gheebah narration 70.

Translation: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseeke –may Allah guide him

Readings from ash-Shamaail al-Muhammadiyyah

2011-03-22T23:54:00.005-04:00

In an effort to help the non-Muslims and new Muslims get a better understanding of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, I will be translating sections from the book ash-Shamaail al-Muhammadiyyah by the late scholar Shaykh Muhammad Jameel Zeeno, may Allah have mercy upon him.

The Birth of the Messenger, peace be upon him

One – Allah Most High says in the Quran: {Allah has blessed the believers when he sent them a messenger from amongst themselves, reciting to them His signs and proofs, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom as before they were in plain misguidance.} Soorah Aali ‘Imraan: 164

Two – Allah Most High says in the Quran: {Say: I am only a human like all of you are, revelation has been sent to me that your God is only One God.} Soorah al-Kahf

Three – The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was asked about fasting on Monday. He said: (That is the day I was born on, the day I was sent as a prophet, and the day the Quran was revealed to me.) Related by Muslim.

Four – The Messenger, peace be upon him, was born on Monday, the month of Rabee’ al-Awwal in Makkah from a well known household in a place where children are delivered in the Year of the Elephant, 571 from two well known parents. His father’s name was ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul-Mutallib and his mother’s name was Aaminah bint Wahb. His grandfather named him Muhammad. His father died before his birth.

Five – It is obligatory for the Muslims to know the level of this noble Messenger so that they may rule by the Quran that was revealed to him, emulate the manners that he did, and give importance to calling to Tawheed (Monotheism) which he began his prophetic message with as it is embodied in the statement of the Most High: {Say: I only call on my Lord and I do not associate any partners with Him.} Soorah al-Jinn

The Name and Lineage of the Messenger, peace be upon him

One – Allah Most High says: {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.} Soorah al-Fath

Two – The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: (I have five names; I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am al-Maahee which is the one whom which Allah wipes out disbelief, I am al-Haashir the one who will have the people gathered at my feet (on the Day of Judgment), and I am al-‘Aaqib the one who there will be no prophet after.) Agreed upon. And Allah has called him Raoof (the Compassionate) and Raheem (the Merciful).

Three – The Messenger of Allah, peace & blessings be upon him, used to define his names saying: (I am Muhammad, I am Ahmad, I am al-Muqfee (the Last of the Prophets), Nabee at-Tawbah (the Prophet of Repentance), and Nabee ar-Rahmah (the Prophet of Mercy).

Four – The Messenger of Allah, peace & blessings be upon him, said: (Are you not amazed at how Allah has averted the insults and curses of the Quraysh from me? They abuse me by calling me Mudhammam (the blameworthy) and they curse me as Mudhammam but I am Muhammad.) Related by al-Bukhaaree.

Five – The Messenger of Allah, peace & blessings be upon him, said: (Indeed Allah chose Kinaanah from the children of Ishmael, and He chose the Quraysh from Kinaanah. He chose Banoo Haashim from Quraysh and chose me from the Banoo Haashim.) Related by Muslim.

You Down with Wah-Hah-Bee?

2011-03-12T16:20:00.005-05:00

We hear it all the time, “a Wahabi”, or, “the Wahabis!!!” It’s used everywhere and anywhere as the nomenclature of choice for the media, both non-Muslim and Muslim, but do the people who use this word really understand it? For those not in the loop, I will provide the standard definition of this term as used by intellectual linguists. This is what I found on thefreedictionary.com:

A Wahabi is a member of a Muslim sect founded by Abdul Wahhab (1703-1792), known for its strict observance of the Koran and flourishing mainly in Arabia.

For starters this definition is only half true. The name of the person they are talking about was Muhammad not Abdul-Wahhaab. His full name was Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab bin Sulaymaan bin ‘Alee at-Taymee, an-Najdee, al-Hanbalee, may Allah have mercy upon him. For those not familiar with the Islamic name system, I will break this down for you:

His first name is Muhammad, his father’s name was Abdul-Wahhaab, his grandfather’s name was Sulaymaan, and his great-grandfather’s name was ‘Alee. at-Taymee is the ascription to his tribe. He was from an-Najd which is the area of present day Riyadh, hence the name an-Najdee (one from an-Najd). The school of Islamic jurisprudence that he followed was that of Ahmad bin Hanbal, hence the name al-Hanbali.

So the definition at this site above incorrectly labeled his father. He is known in the Muslim world as ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab. He never founded a sect with the name Wahabi or called his students by this name. We have all of the works of the Shaykh available, his letters, his sermons, his books, and his treatises, and no where do we find him using this term or calling others to use it. This name is actually a derogatory term used by those who did not like what the Shaykh was teaching. Its equivalent to calling little old me, a “wetback”!

This name is incorrect from many angles but I will list the main ones here for the reader:

First – The name “Wahabi” is derived from Shaykh Muhammad’s father, Abdul-Wahaab not Shaykh Muhammad himself. Those who hated Shaykh Muhammad could not use “Muhammadis” for him and his group because linguistically this name means “one or those who follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him” which doesn’t carry a negative meaning! They couldn’t find fault with his name so they just went after his father’s.

Second – Linguistically, وَهَّابِي “Wahabi” is a person who worships اَلْوَهَّاب al-Wahhaab, an attribute of Allah found in the Quran. Allah says:

{Indeed You are al-Wahhaab (the Bestower).} Aali ‘Imraan: 8

And He says:

{Or do they possess the treasures of your Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, al-Wahhaab (the Bestower).} Saad: 9

One can say he is a Rahmaani because he worships الرَّحْمن ar-Rahmaan, or he is a Majeedi because he worships المَجِيْد al-Majeed, or a Raheemi because he worship الرَّحِيْم ar-Raheem, so on and so forth, but hypocritically, you will not find those who use the word Wahabi applying such names to others!

Third – Since the use of this name is derived from the names of Allah and it is used to make fun of someone who worships Allah, then Allah says:

{O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed wrong-doers.} Al-Hujurat:11

Fourth – ‘al-Wahhaabiyyah’ was the original name for a deviant sect of the Ibaadhis, founded by Abdul-Wahhaab bin Abdur-Rahmaan bin Rustum who died in 190 A.H. and appears in the book al- Firaq al- Islaamiyyah Fee Shimaal Afreeqiyyah , which was compiled by the Frenchman: Verdibel , which ‘ Abdur-Rahmaan Badawi translated to Arabic in one volume. This was explained by ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sa’d ash-Shuway’ir in Correction of a Historical Misunderstanding Concerning the “Wahhabiyyah”, so whoever wants to refer to it then do so as it is beneficial and more in-depth.

And Allah knows best.

The Children of Israel are attached to Good and the Children of Ishmael are attached to Evil

2011-03-12T15:49:00.000-05:00

113. Since the moon comprehends good and evil, Israel (Bah Yisrael) calculate according to it and the children of Ishmael (Binay Yishmael) calculate according to it. Israel are attached to its good part and the children of Ishmael are to its evil part. When it is eclipsed during its fullness, which is its good part, it is a bad sign for Israel, and when it is eclipsed during its waning it is a bad sign for the Ishmaelites. Of it, it is written, “for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish” (Isaiah 29:14), namely the wisdom of the Ishmaelites, “and understanding of their prudent men shall be hid” (Ibid.), because they do not know about the creation of the starts but of their customs, according to changes in the world and their calculation.

The Zohar page 276 under the chapter 24. One must not start anything on Monday or Wednesday, volume 22, English translation from the original Aramaic.

Discrepancies in the Accounts of Jesus’ Genealogy in the New Testament

2011-03-12T14:57:00.005-05:00

When I was a Christian, I used to love reading the Bible. I would spend hours going through it and contemplating on its meanings. My greatest love was the New Testament. I would enjoy reading the four gospels over and over again. I would even compare the texts just to see what was unique about each Gospel. There were times however where I came across a discrepancy or a contradiction that would affect me. Nothing confused me more than the discrepancy of Prophet Jesus’ genealogy, peace be upon him.

Both of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke detail the genealogy of the Messiah, peace be upon him. Nothing is mentioned in Mark or John. When I used to compare them I noticed several things:

The first thing is that the genealogy listed in both Gospels belongs to Joseph, not Prophet Jesus’ mother Mary, peace be upon them all. I use to ask the priests about this and they would tell me that the genealogy wasn’t what was important, what mattered the most was belief that Jesus was the Son of God, and that he came to die for the sins of mankind. That never really sat right with me. Why don’t we have the genealogy of Prophet Jesus’ mother Mary? Why wasn’t it important?

The second thing, in Luke’s account we find that Adam is listed as ‘the son of God’!? This blew me away because I always thought Jesus was the only son of God, but here we have plain as day, a biblical proof where someone else is listed as being the son of God! (For a clearer understanding of this term ‘son of God’ please refer to my article: The Names and Titles of Prophet Jesus in the New Testament: The Son of God.)

The third thing is that when both genealogies are compared side to side there are some very noticeable problems. The author of Luke, whoever he is, decided to list the genealogy beginning with Adam and then all the way down to Abraham, the author of Matthew, whoever he is, didn’t. Now from Abraham to David in both Gospels, the names coincide and are very accurate. However, after David all the way to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, the names are all totally different!

For quick reference, I have created a table below. Compare the names and you will see the stark differences. I also wanted to point out something, you will notice in the list of Luke that some names appear twice such as Cainan, Matthat, and Mattathiah, Joseph, Judah, Levi, etc. There is no contradiction there. I never understood this until I accepted Islam and studied the Islamic naming system.

The Quran and the Sunnah teach us that the early Muslims used to take the names of their prophets and righteous people for their children. Evidence of this in the Quran is where we find in Soorah Maryam, that Maryam, peace be upon her, is called the sister of Haaroon (Aaron). Likewise we find in the genealogy of Luke that Arphaxad chose the name Cainan for his son, the name of Enosh’s son Cainan. And that a Judah, not Judah of the twelve tribes of Israel, named his son Joseph, not Joseph who was married to Prophet Jesus’ mother Mary, etc. And Allah knows best.

The Names and Titles of Prophet Jesus in the New Testament: Son of Man

2011-03-08T01:01:00.010-05:00

Throughout the New Testament we find the well known biblical title ‘Son of Man’ used by Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him. Christians are at odds regarding this mysterious appellation. Recently I read two views concerning the usage of ‘Son of Man’. A very decent explanation of the first view is found in Karen Armstrong’s best-seller A History of God. Karen, a former nun, states that ‘Son of Man’ simply stressed the weakness and mortality of the human condition, so by using it, Jesus was merely emphasizing that he was a frail human being who would one day suffer and die.

The second view is mischievously summed up by Dr. William Lane Craig, hailed to be among the world’s foremost experts on the Resurrection, who states, “Son of Man is often thought to indicate the humanity of Jesus, just as the reflex expression “Son of God” indicates his divinity. In fact, just the opposite is true. The Son of Man was a divine figure in the Old Testament book of Daniel who would come at the end of the world to judge mankind and rule forever. Thus, the claim to be the Son of Man would be in effect a claim to divinity.”

The verse alluded to by Dr. Craig in Daniel states, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7: 13-14

Now if we look into the linguistic aspect of the texts we will discover that the correct theological understanding for this title gives more weight to the first view. In the original text of Daniel the word used is:

בַר אֱנָשׁ
(Bar Anash)

This is a pure Aramaic usage as most of Daniel if not all, is written in this beautiful Semitic language. Since Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, spoke Aramaic we know that this is the exact word he used when he called himself ‘Son of Man’. In the Hebrew translation of the original Greek gospels we find the following word used:

בֶן הָאָדָם
(Ben Ha-Adam)

Both words Bar and Ben mean the same thing; ‘son’, and the word Anash means ‘mankind’ while Ha is the Hebrew definite article attached to Adam which could be translated as ‘mankind'. The literal translation is ‘Son of Adam’.

Consequently in the Arabic Life Application translation of the Bible, both the Old and New Testament use the same word:

إبْنُ الإنْسَانِ
(Ibn-ul-Insaan)

Which in Arabic means ‘a son of mankind’, the word Ibn is a ‘son’ and al-Insaan is ‘mankind’. These Semitic words all bear one simple fact, Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, was not claiming to be divine, to be a portion of God, or to be God incarnate, rather he was clearly defining himself as a human being like all of the other children of our father Adam, peace be upon him.

{The Messiah ['Iesa, Jesus], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).} (Al-Ma'idah 5:75)

What lends even more proof to this is that throughout the book of Ezekiel, peace be upon him, God addresses him as ‘Son of Man’:

“And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this day.” Ezekiel 2: 1-3

In the original text of Ezekiel the word used is:

בֶּן אָדָם
(Ben Adam)

This title coincides exactly with the one found in Daniel and in the Hebrew translation of the New Testament albeit that the definite article is not written. The Arabic translation uses Ibn-ul-Insaan for all three sections of the Bible. Therefore if we were to ascribe to the view held by Dr. Craig and others who support it, then we would also have to fairly attribute divinity to the Prophet Ezekiel!

{O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Iesa Jesus, son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.} (An-Nisa 4:171)

On a final note, I noticed that the verse Dr. Craig quoted from Daniel 7: 14 regarding the Messiah is translated as saying, “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him...”

In the original text the phrase is:

לֵ֣הּ יִפְלְח֑וּן

This should be translated as ‘they serve him’ or ‘do his work’ as the meaning of the root פּלח (Falach) in Hebrew does not mean worship but conveys the meanings; till, work, serve, cleaving, and ploughing.

The root فَلَحَ (Falah) in Arabic conveys the same meaning. You get words such as فَلاَّحٌ ‘farmer’ or one who tills or cultivates the land.

After studying the Hebrew text I came to the conclusion that this prophecy is not referring to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, but rather to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon. That in itself will be reserved for another article, by the permission of Allah.

In conclusion, it is my firm belief that the name ‘Son of Man’ was a title used by God for the Prophets of the past to affirm their humanness and mortality. This was probably used so that the people would not fall into ‘prophet worship’ or into raising them up to the status of divinity. The linguistic evidence I pointed out proves this along with the biblical verse found in Ezekiel, and Allah knows best.

Thousands of American-Muslims march on White House

2011-03-01T19:36:00.007-05:00

written 28 Feb 2011 14:25 EST

Tens of thousands of American-Muslims from all over the United States have returned to the streets of the capitol voicing their demands for recognition of ‘Islamic rights’ and an end to the prejudice and discrimination they face daily.

The crowds included American-Muslims of all ethnic backgrounds and all walks of life; Arab, Asian, African, European as well as a larger turnout of African-American, Anglo, Latino, and Native Americans.

“Americans think that Muslims are only Arabs. They are so close-minded when it comes to Islam. Many of us here are converts and third and fourth generation Muslims whose parents accepted Islam in the early 60’s and 70’s. It’s time for America to wake up!” exclaimed 44 year old Abdullah Guzman of the Bronx, New York and founder of ‘Islamic Rights for American Muslims’. Mr. Guzman served in the Armed Forces during the first Gulf War, stationed in Kuwait, where he heard about Islam and converted.

(Thousands of American-Muslims marched towards the White House today.)

Five demonstrators were killed and over a hundred injured after police in riot gear began firing tear gas and arresting demonstrators after local authorities listed them as ‘terrorists’ and a ‘threat to the city’. Human rights groups are calling on a full investigation into the causes of the deaths.

“The government thinks it can get away by labeling us as ‘terrorists’ so they don’t have to hear our concerns and ignore how we are treated in America, “ said 21 year old Abdur-Rahman Ali of Norfolk, Virginia whose parents were born in Pakistan but moved to America in the early 70’s. “We need more representation in the government. We don’t see Muslims running things in the White House addressing our issues! We need a voice for us!”

The peaceful demonstrations began last week as American-Muslims demanded more rights that allow them to practice their religious beliefs. They state that they are not allowed to carry out religious duties such as making the call to prayer over loudspeakers, building mosques or adding on to them, burying their dead in accordance to Islamic burial rituals, and marrying more than one wife. Muslim men in Islam are allowed to marry up to four wives.

“If gays can marry and adopt why can’t I freely practice my religion and marry four wives without scrutiny from the government?” said 33 year old Ahmad Freeman, whose mother and father accepted Islam in the early 70’s and who owns his own laundry service in Decatur, Georgia. “I pay my taxes just like everyone else!”

(African-American Muslims demanded their religious rights this morning.)

They are also demanding the institution of American-Muslim mayors, governors, senators, and members of congress to properly represent them. In addition to this, they also called on the government to end prejudice and discrimination that Muslims have constantly faced due to their names, Islamic clothing, and usage of the Arabic language.

“No one will hire me because I choose to cover my face, it is my religious belief, why can’t I practice what I believe in?” stated 30 year old Amina Mohammed whose is a single mother raising two children in Orlando, Florida. “I have a Masters degree and experience in my field but I’m constantly discriminated against because I’m Muslim.” Another protestor, 23 year old Fairouz Bakri who was born and raised in Richmond, Kentucky said, “I don’t even wear the face veil, and I still can’t get a job as a waitress to help pay for my school. I’m thinking of applying overseas to study in Saudi as college there is free.”

The local unrest comes at a time when the Arab world is being filled with wide-spread protests and revolutions, many of which have been incited and sponsored by the U.S. “The president calls on the Muslim world to demand change and rights from their governments but then contradicts himself by not granting American-Muslims their rights! That’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black!” said 55 year old Fatima Williams, an African-American Muslim teacher from Los Angeles, California.

(Human Rights groups are calling on the government to investigate clashes between peaceful American-Muslim protesters and violent authorities.)

In addition to the seven day protests, thousands of American-Muslims have issued a nation-wide boycott until their demands are met. The country is in a state of chaos as American-Muslim doctors, nurses, taxi drivers, servers, porters, police and security officers, toll booth workers, electricians, teachers, and city workers have refused to return to work.

As the crowds made their way towards the White House, several tourists passed by staring at the demonstrators. “I think they should all go back to where they came from, they give me the creeps” commented 62 year old Rhonda Johnson who was visiting the state capitol on vacation from Dothan, Alabama. When an older African-American Muslim female protestor heard her, she peacefully confronted Mrs. Johnson and told her that she was born and raised in America just like her and she was the same age.

“I don’t care how long you have been here. You are not going to turn this country into one of those countries over there. They need to ship all of you out of here!”

=======================================================

Disclaimer: This was a fictional mock article depicting what it would be like in the United States if American-Muslims engaged in the same protests, demonstrations, calls to human rights, pro-Democracy reforms, revolutions, etc. that the American government is inciting other countries to embark on. Just a thought I wanted to share.
Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee

Quiz: Is this verse from the Bible or from the Quran?

2011-02-25T18:17:00.000-05:00

“…She carried out her prostitution openly, and she lay around naked. I turned away from her in disgust as I had turned away from her sister. She remembered how she had been a prostitute in Egypt when she was young. So she took part in even more prostitution. She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose semen was like that of horses. So she longed to do the sinful things she did when she was young in Egypt, when young men caressed and fondled her breasts.”

Answer: Well, it sure isn’t the Quran, but if you thought it was from a page right out of a Harlequin novel, your even more wrong! It is from the Old Testament from Ezekiel 23:18-21.

The Names and Titles of Prophet Jesus in the New Testament: The Prophet

2011-02-23T00:56:00.012-05:00

In the Gospels we find many titles given to Prophet Jesus, all of which indicate that he did not profess to be God or to be worshiped as a god. From them are the following:

The Prophet

Throughout the New Testament we find that not only did the people in the time of Jesus, peace be upon him, hold him to be a Prophet sent by God, but he regarded himself as one as well. In Matthew 13:57 we find, “But Jesus said to them, “A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house.”

And in Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house” while in Luke 4:24 he says, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.” In the Gospel of John 4:44 the author paraphrases from the other three, saying, “For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.”

“And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” Matthew 21:10-11

“But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” Matthew 21:46

In Mark chapter 6:13 -15, when Prophet Jesus becomes well known throughout the land, Herod mentions him as being a reincarnation of John the Baptist while others state he is Elijah but a third group says, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

In Luke 7:16 after Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, raises a man from the dead the people began to say, “A great prophet has risen up among us.” And then in 7:26 he confirms being a Prophet as well as the Messiah saying, “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.” Some Christian allege that this means that Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, was confirming that he was God, however the wording only gives proof that he was confirming to be a prophet and more than a prophet; the Messiah, not God incarnate.

“Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” Luke 24:19

“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6:14

“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” John 7:40

“They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” John 9:17

And this is what has been confirmed in the Quran:

{And will make him, Jesus, a Messenger to the Children of Israel (saying): "I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, that I design for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's Leave; and I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by Allah's Leave. And I inform you of what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely, therein is a sign for you, if you believe.} (Aali Imran 3:49)

{Say (O Muhammad): "We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibraahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qoob (Jacob) and Al-Asbaat [the twelve sons of Ya'qoob (Jacob)] and what was given to Moosaa (Moses), 'Iesa Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam)."} (Aali Imran 3:84)

{And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him Jesus, son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allah and a human being],before his Jesus or a Jew's or a Christian's] death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he, Jesus, will be a witness against them.} (An-Nisa 4:159)

{O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Iesa Jesus, son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him; so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.} (An-Nisa 4:171)

{The Messiah ['Iesa, Jesus], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth).} (Al-Ma'idah 5:75)

{He ['Iesa (Jesus)] said: Verily! I am a slave of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet;"} (Maryam 19:30)

{And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad SAW), and from Nooh (Noah), Ibraahim (Abraham), Moosaa (Moses), and 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). We took from them a strong covenant.} (Al-Ahzab 33:7)

And Allah knows best.

Democracy at its Finest

2011-02-21T13:45:00.005-05:00

When I initially read this I couldn’t believe it, but then upon further reflection these are the types of nonsense bills that actually get voted as laws in the so-called “free” countries of Democracy! If you are ever in Alabama make sure not to flick boogers in the wind because you could get arrested! And if you ever find yourself attending a fair in Georgia make sure not to make disturbing sounds because it’s illegal! And in Galveston, Texas do not sit on the sidewalks because if your caught you could be fined up to $500.00!!!

Malawians voice anger against farting bill

Thursday, February 10 12:27 am

Residents in Malawi's financial capital Blantyre have reacted angrily at government attempts to criminalize farting in public.

The Local Courts Bill, to be introduced next week, reads: "Any person who vitiates the atmosphere in any place so as to make it noxious to the public to the health of persons in general dwelling or carrying on business in the neighbourhood or passing along a public way, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour."

The bill will also attempt to deal with citizens who hinder the burial of dead bodies as well as people who pretend to be fortune tellers.

Many feel that there are better issues that the government needs to discuss. Local Topsi Ganzalesi said: "We can't allow that. We all fart. Where do they think we could go and fart? That is no issue to debate upon."

College student, Matthews Phiri, was not alone in saying he could not understand how the government hoped to enforce the new law - adding to widespread criticism that the new law is a giant waste of public funds.

"We all fart in public and it will be difficult to tell who has done it. Some do it silently. It some cases it is like teargas which goes like shhhh! Our legislators need to concentrate on discussing development projects. They should not waste our time and money on childish issues. It would make sense if they talked about defecating and urinating anyhow but not farting. This will not work. We will keep on farting." he said. (End of Article)

With all this misplaced unrest and protests occurring throughout the world my mind conjured up images of thousands of Malawians taking to the streets in mass protests:

Consequently, passing gas is not forbidden in Islam, it is seen as a natural bodily function that ALL human beings do. What is prohibited is laughing at others when they pass gas. Laughing at someone who passed gas was seen as a lowly trait of the times of al-Jaahiliyyah. In the Saheeh of both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah bin Zam’ah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said after one had passed gas and another laughed, “Why would one of you laugh at something he himself does?!” This shows you the honorable status of Islamic law above and over the ignorant legislation pondered in the minds of men who take man made ideologies as their way of governing the people. And Allah knows best.

What happened in Egypt?

2011-02-17T14:46:00.013-05:00

Shocked. That is the only word that I could use to describe what I was seeing and hearing about the unrest in Egypt. A place that was once my home and whose inhabitants embraced me and took me in as one of their own was in a serious state of chaos.

I lived in Egypt under the regime of Hosni Mubarak, and I will tell you that living there as a Mexican-American Muslim was easier than living in the United States as a Mexican-American Muslim under the regime of George W. Bush Jr. after the events of September 11th. Yes, there was corruption, there was injustice, and there were problems (and not all of it at the hands of the former president but by Egyptians themselves!), but in Egypt, Islam was present and apparent. Mosques were everywhere, statements of the Prophet, peace be upon him, were written beautifully on walls, the 99 Names of God were displayed on the highway, and the recordings of Egypt’s famous reciters blasted from speakers like the non-Muslims in America bump their hip-hop music. Five times a day the sounds of a thousand calls to prayer vibrated the small city of Shibeen al-Kowm, my place of residence. Here I lived amongst the locals as a local. No white tourists from the West, no Asian tourists from the East, just your everyday average Egyptians struggling to make a living. You either spoke Egyptian Arabic here or you were going to have a difficult time making it. I experienced the same woes as they did but I was happy and at peace.

(The al-Abbaasi Mosque in Shibeen al-Kowm. It is one of the oldest Mosques in the city.)

My Egyptian Muslim friends were poor but humble, always welcoming me and my family over for lunch or dinner, begging me to keep them company for hours on end. I would walk the streets of Shibeen and mingle with the people. No one made fun of my beard, no one laughed at my Islamic clothing, no one tried to ridicule my beliefs like back home in America. In Egypt there is sense of family, of unity, and honor in being Muslim and a strong concern for keeping the country safe for one’s family. Here the Muslims protected both the mosques and the churches equally, but the Christians knew they were the minority and showed respect. On the streets of Egypt, I could take long strolls past the Nile late at night with my wife without the fear of being mugged by a desperate crack fiend or shot as an innocent by-stander by gang members fighting over drug turf. All of this while Hosni Mubarak was president.

The protests saddened me, but even more so was the blatant disregard of the adherence to Islamic principles by those who pride themselves in being students of knowledge from the Islamic University of al-Azhar. American students of knowledge who openly called to the un-Islamic practices of demonstrations, marches, protests, Democracy, voting, human rights, freedom of speech, unity of religions, and last but definitely not least, the removal of the Muslim ruler!

(Within the interior of Shibeen al-Kowm the Nile crosses through in its enormity, Shibeen is located within the district of Minoofiyyah, around an hour away from Cairo.)

It was as if those scholars who agreed with their agendas and plots were given precedence. Suddenly their words were being translated and put at the forefront, spread for the non-Arabic speaking Muslims to get a one-sided warped view of the reality. The statements of scholars such as ash-Shaykh, Dr. Muhammad Sa’eed Rislaan along with the evidences from the Book and the Sunnah against Democracy and its ills; protests, marches, voting, etc. were ignored and hidden away.

(Satellites cover the rooftops of apartment buildings. Egyptians may not have jobs, but everyone has access to television!)

Students of knowledge who pride themselves on following the traditional scholars of this Ummah suddenly threw the Creed of Imam at-Tahaawi behind their backs. Forgetting his statement, may Allah have mercy upon him:

“And we do not see going against our leaders and our rulers if they become oppressive. We do not go against them and we do not remove the power of obedience to them. We see obedience to them as being obedience to Allah the Mighty and Majestic as an obligation as long as they do not command disobedience. And we invite them to reconciliation and pardon.”

(One of many Quran schools located in Shibeen al-Kowm.)

Somehow, through all of this unplaced and unwarranted emotion, some Muslims have forgotten that former president Mr. Mubarak is still a Muslim. He still prays, he still fasts, he makes pilgrimage, and still believes in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, made it clear that the right of the Muslim over another Muslim is six in number. This man has rights just as any other Muslim has rights in our religion. He is still to be supplicated for and to be asked of Allah for forgiveness and pardon. “None of you truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”

(For less than $2.00 American dollars, I enjoyed Egyptian fast food such as Ta'miyyah and 'Aysh Baladi. This plate of food fed the entire family.)

On a final note, and least shocking is the openly manifested call of the American government to incite the ignorant masses of Muslims in the Muslim world to go out and protest against their governments! The demagogic antics of U.S. President Barak Obama and his Draconian demand for the spread of Democracy in the Middle East is a perfect example. Now realistically, how would Mr. Obama feel if half a million angry and disgruntled white Americans camped out on the steps of the Mall every day, demanding his immediate resignation from the presidency and refusing to leave until he stepped down? How would the American government handle half a million angry and disgruntled white Americans taking to the streets in D.C. and marching to the White House in protests? Would the same fanatic rhetoric that he is pushing on the Muslim world work in the United States? I highly doubt it!

This recycled call to Democracy is only to thwart the Muslims from practicing Islamic law (America itself is not a Democracy, it is a Republic!). The West has openly and without any shame launched a massive campaign to instill Democracy in the minds of ignorant Muslim the world over. Phrases such as “Islamic Democracy” resonate throughout many mosques in the West and yet there is not one verse in the Quran nor in the authentic statements of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that give support to Democracy (or in the Bible for that matter)! And this is while the Greeks were practicing it in the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him!

إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ أَمَرَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ
{The rule is for none but Allah to command. He has commanded that you worship none but Him.} Yusoof: 40

أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ حُكْماً لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
{Do they then seek the rule of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgment than Allah for a people who have firm Faith.} al-Maai’dah: 50

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْراً أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ
{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.} al-Ahzaab: 36

History has already shown that the American government only wants what suits their agendas and desires. Case in point, look at what is going on in Iran, read about the current U.S. regime’s involvement, and then compare with the eye-opening incident concerning Muhammad Musaddeq and the 1953 American-led coup in Iran. May Allah protect the Muslims from the plots of those who plot against Islam!

I will close with this, life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia opened my eyes to how Islamic law is to be practiced. I cannot think of any country practicing Islam and applying its laws like this blessed country. When does the U.S. President open the doors of the White House and allow the common people to come in and make grievances or request assistance like the King here? What president in the whole of the entire West does that for its people? What country allows its citizens the ability to attend college for free? What country then allows thousands of non-citizens to come to its country and allow them to attend the universities for free? The un-Islamic practices of demonstrations, marches, protests, the false ideologies of Democracy, voting, human and women’s rights, freedom of speech, unity of religions, and last but definitely not least the removal of the Muslim ruler are not welcomed here and have no place. Islam rules the land, and the Quran and the Sunnah contain everything that is needed for the country to thrive. The social ills and violence that dominate the barrios of where I grew up in America are non-existent. This is a land where the people truly live in peace and safety. I ask Allah to bless the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its King, its Scholars, its government, its great people. And I ask him to bless the Muslim world; Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, and all the other parts and allow them to practice and apply Islamic law so that the people may live in peace and safety and return to the greatness it was once upon of knowledge, strength, and wisdom. And Allah is able to do all things.

The Names and Titles of Prophet Jesus in the New Testament: The Son of God

2011-02-03T00:35:00.003-05:00

In the Gospels we find many titles given to Prophet Jesus, all of which indicate that he did not profess to be God or to be worshipped as a god. From them is the following:

The Son of God

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood titles attributed to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, in the New Testament is “Son of God”. As a Christian I believed whole heartedly that Prophet Jesus was God’s only begotten Son, sent to die by crucifixion for the sins of mankind. Most of my influences were based on the doctrines of the church as well as the literal interpretations of biblical passages found within the Gospels. But it wasn’t until I studied the texts of the Bible that I soon discovered that the early Jews (those before the time of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him), held a “Son of God” to be the Creator’s human vicegerent; one whom God would speak to and give direction and who fulfilled His will on earth, not God incarnate who assumed the flesh of mankind.

In the Old Testament we find that God is constantly referenced as “Father” and the chosen ones of the children of Israel are His “sons”. Examples from the Old Testament include the following:

“I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” 2Samuel 7:14

“A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.” Psalms 68:5

“For thou art our Father, though Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us, though O Lord art our Father, Our Redeemer.” Isaiah 63:16

“But now, O Lord, thou art our Father.” Isaiah 64:8

Both Prophets Jacob (Israel) and David (Daawud), peace be upon them both, are mentioned as being God’s first-born and begotten:

“And thou shalt say unto Pharoah: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is My son, My first-born.” Exodus 4:22

“I will tell of the decree: the Lord said unto me: ‘Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee.” Psalm 2:7

And in the genealogy ascribed to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, we find in Luke 3:38 where our father Adam, peace be upon him, is mentioned as, “Adam, the son of God”.

Dr. Bart Ehrman states in his book, Jesus Interrupted (pg. 79), “Although Jesus is acknowledged as the Son of God in this Gospel (see 1:11; 9:7; 15:39), that is not his preferred title for himself, and he only acknowledges it reluctantly (14:62). It is important to know that for ancient Jews the term “son of God” could mean a wide range of things. In the Hebrew Bible the “son of God” could refer to the nation of Israel (Hosea 11:1), or to the king of Israel (1 Samuel 7:14). In these cases the son of God was someone specially chosen by God to perform his work and mediate his will on earth. And for Mark, Jesus was certainly all that—he was the one who performed the ultimate will of God, going to his death on the cross. It is striking, though, in the Gospel of Mark, that Jesus never refers to himself as a divine being, as someone who preexisted, as someone who was in any sense equal with God. In Mark, he is not God and he does not claim to be.” End of quote.

And Christian writer Bruce Chilton in his book entitled Rabbi Jesus an Intimate Biography (pgs. 17-18) states, “All his life, Jesus was both intense in his personal vision and gregarious in company. These habits of temperament develop early: personal intensity comes of loneliness, and those who love company most know what it is to live without it. A critical, independent child with an ironic turn of mind, Jesus must have spent much of his time alone, wandering through the hills of Galilee, talking to the shepherds and vagrant rabbis who were regarded as shady characters in small communities like Nazareth. All the while, without training or conscious articulation, he was developing a sense of Israelite society that was radically inclusive and a vision of God that was not limited to the strictures of local institutions.

All the insults cast his way help explain why Jesus came to see God as his father, His Abba in Aramaic. If Joseph’s fatherhood was in doubt, God’s fatherhood was not. Jews of this time recognized themselves as God’s children and addressed God as “our father, our primordial redeemer is your name” (Isaiah 63:16). To call God “father” was a daring metaphor itself, because it signified that the creator of the entire world had entered into a special relationship with Israel, as a father to his children. And Jesus joined some rabbis in a further, bolder claim, asserting God’s personal, fatherly care for his children as individuals.

Because of Jesus’ love of this metaphor, calling God “father” became systemic in Christianity. But its meaning is Jewish and especially strong within the unsettled Judaism of Galilee. When prayed to and worshipped routinely in Christian churches, God becomes everybody’s father instead of my father, and the divine relationship becomes formalized and abstract instead of intimate, as it was with Jesus.

Aramaic stories in the Talmud vividly convey a reliance upon God as father. Although the Talmud was shaped during the fifth century C.E., it is largely written in Aramaic, and includes ancient traditions that sometimes open up new perspectives on Jesus. Jesus might have heard one Talmudic story about a rabbi who was himself known as Abba. Children came to him from a village plagued by drought, crying, “Abba, Abba, give us rain!” The rabbi lifted his voice to heaven, asking for rain on behalf of “those who do not know the difference between an Abba who can give rain, and an Abba who cannot!” (This playful wording works only in Aramaic, not in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the term for “my father” is Avi, not Abba, so confusion with the name “Abba” only arises in the Aramaic language; Taanit 23b in the Babylonian Talmud.) Such stories show that “father” was indeed a Jewish way of referring to God, and when Jesus was a rabbi he instructed his students to pray regularly to God as Abba (see Matthew 6:9) Even Greek-speaking Christians addressed God as Abba because they remembered Jesus’ original idiom (see Paul’s letter to the Galatians 4:6 ).” End of quote.

Proofs from the New Testament that ‘Son of God’ was not literal

With all of this said, there will still be some Christians who will insist that Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, is the one and only ‘Son of God’ in the literal sense. To them I ask, what is written in the New Testament? Does it not clearly state that everyone was a son of God and that He was everyone’s Father? Are not the following verses attributed to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him?

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44 - 45

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5: 48

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

“That your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Matthew 6:4

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6

“How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:20

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” Matthew 10:29

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

“For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.” Luke 12:30

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

“That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:21

“Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but I go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” John 20:17

{And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): "O 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allâh?' " He will say: "Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner¬self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All¬Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. "Never did I say to them aught except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.} Quran 5: 116-117

Ignorance is at an all time High! Part 2

2011-02-02T23:37:00.003-05:00

Wow! These church signs are becoming the latest fad in spreading Islamophobia. Check this one out right here. I wonder if the people responsible for putting this up actually read the New Testament where it has been ascribed to Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, that he said:

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Matthew 10: 34-35

And how about this one:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26

How about these peaceful Christian quotes that appeared in the September 24, 2001 edition of Time:

I ardently agree with Lance Morrow that we must have the resolve as a people and a nation to vent our rage and seek retaliation [Essay, Special Issue]. I am sickened by the number of appeals for forgiveness that I am already seeing on church announcement boards and hearing from commentators on talk shows. Repressed rage festers like any other infection and weakens us both morally and spiritually. There is nothing inhuman or immoral about venting rage, protecting ourselves or trying to eradicate a poison that is seeking to eradicate our nation. In fact, I believe that to do otherwise is inhuman and immoral.

Dena Forster
Bethesda, Md.

Morrow's is the best response to the crisis I've read. While I understand something of the government's caution, I am impatient for us to act. We must retaliate. This country cannot afford to show any weakness or indecision. The borders should be closed and troops stationed at them. We must vigilantly patrol our coasts and airspace until further notice. As far as I'm concerned, we should already be bombing Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan until there is nothing left but rubble-filled craters.

Beth Gray
Los Angeles

For the Sincere: A Free E-Book for Non-Muslims

2011-01-19T11:06:00.002-05:00

Click on Link to Download the Book

Were we created in God’s Image?

2010-12-09T16:04:00.005-05:00

Before my conversion to Islam, I believed that God was an old White man with a Grey beard and hair who sat upon a throne in the sky ruling the universe. Images that I grew up seeing in church publications and embedded in stained-glass windows such as those of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam influenced my thought process of what God looked like.

In Orthodox Islam, we are taught that God is not a man, not a white man as the European slave preachers taught, not a black man as the followers of the evil Nation of Islam cult allege. He is not human nor does He resemble His creation. He was not born nor does He beget. He does not die. He is unique, far from what any mind can fathom. He does not need food, drink, or sleep. He does not need a wife, children, or partners to rule in His dominion. He is never unjust, bias, or unbalanced. He never tires of providing and taking care of His creation. He runs the affairs of everything perfectly and according to His desire.

He is more perfect in the Islamic view than the Judeo-Christian view. In the Bible, God is attributed with fallible human qualities; he rests, goes looking for Adam (as if He didn’t know where he was!), and even regrets! It is the Islamic beliefs in a One Perfect and Just God that attracted me to Islam and made me leave Christianity.

There is even an authentic narration concerning one who begins to reflect on whether Allah is “created”:

يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أحَدُكُمْ فَيَقُولُ : مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا؟ حَتَّى يَقُولُ : مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ؟ فَإذَا بَلَغَهُ فَـــلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللّهِ وَ لْيَنْتَهِ
(The Shaytaan (the devil) comes to anyone of you and whispers, “Who created this? Who created this?” until he whispers, “Who created Allah?” So if this happens then seek refuge in Allah, and it will end.)

Allah willing, in this post I wanted to share an Islamic point of benefit concerning the issue of “God’s image”. I have been reading from a remarkable book entitled Mukhtasar al-Jaami’ fee al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (An Abridged Version Concerning the Comprehensive Issues of Allah’s Names and Attributes) written by a Yemeni student of knowledge named Aboo ‘Azeez Hasan bin Noor al-Marwa’ee. For those interested about more details of the treatise then you can click here to read my book review.

Aboo ‘Azeez outlines the belief of the early Muslims concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah. He divides the book into sections where he brings the statements of the Quran and the Prophetic narrations to prove these beliefs. Under the section Ithbaat as-Soorah li-Laah ‘Azza wa Jalla (Establishing that Allah has an Image) he brings the narration found in al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, where the Prophet, peace be upon him said:

خَلَقَ اللهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ طُولُهُ سِتُّونَ ذِرَاعًا...فَكُلُّ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ عَلَى صُورَةِ آدَمَ
(Allah created Adam upon His image, the span of Adam is sixty cubits…so whoever enters paradise will enter upon the original form of Adam…)

Aboo ‘Azeez then cites the statements of several Muslim scholars such as Aboo Bakr al-Aajuree, may Allah have mercy upon him who said in his famous book ash-Sharee’ah page 314, “ al-Imaan (Islamic belief) is holding that Allah the Mighty and Majestic created Adam upon his image without saying “how””.

The late Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ash-Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him, said in al-Fataawaa which is a voluminous collection of his legal rulings, in volume one page 315, “The meaning, and Allah knows best, is that He created Adam upon His image, He possesses a face, hearing, sight, He hears, speaks, sees, He does what He wishes. It is not imperative (to believe) that His face is like the created face, His hearing is like the created hearing, His sight is like the created sight and so on. It is not imperative (to believe) that His image is like the created image. This principle is completely understood within the context of the People of the Sunnah (the application of Islam as explained and taught by the Prophet, peace be upon him) and the Jamaa’ah (the Muslims who practice Islam according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). It is the passages of the verses of the attributes and its narrations based on their actual meaning, without Tahreef (to distort or change the names and attributes of Allah), Takyeef (to describe how a name or attribute of Allah exists, such as His hand, face, His descent, His establishment upon the throne, etc.), Tamtheel (to compare the names and attributes of Allah with His creation), or Ta’teel (to reject in part or in whole what Allah has established about Himself of His names and attributes). It is to affirm His names and attributes affirmatively without Tamtheel (to compare the names and attributes of Allah with His creation). They completely remove any resemblance of His creation without any Ta’teel (to reject in part or in whole what Allah has established about Himself of His names and attributes).”

The late Yemeni Hadeeth scholar, ash-Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waadi’ee, may Allah have mercy upon him, was asked about affirming a Soorah (an image) to Allah, to which he said, “It is correct that He created him upon His image, upon the Soorah (image) of Allah the Mighty and Majestic. Allah possesses hearing and mankind possesses hearing. Allah possesses two eyes and so does mankind. Allah possesses two hands and so does mankind. The (apparent) difference is between both of them; the attributes of the Creator and the attributes of mankind. The attributes of mankind indicate his weakness, his incapability, his demise. The attributes of Allah indicate His immortality, His strength, His infinite existence.” Reference the book al-Ajwibat-us-Sadeedah fee Fataawaa al-‘Aqeedah (the Straightforward Responses concerning Rulings on Islamic Creed) page 111. You can reference more from this book on pages 51 – 53.

In the Quran we are taught that this was the original belief of the first Muslims such as our father Adam, Prophet Noah, and Prophet Abraham, peace be upon them all. It was this message of Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah that was later distorted by later followers. In upcoming posts with the assistance of Allah, I will present the Orthodox beliefs of Muslims based on the Quran and the Sunnah.

Professor Bart Ehrman on the Accuracy of the Gospels

2010-12-03T10:31:00.006-05:00

Read my book review of one of his books here at this link.

And the Countdown is on…

2010-12-02T13:51:00.013-05:00

Modern preachers such as Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, Pat Robertson, and others are hell-bent on the occurrence of an apocalyptic event that will usher in the Armageddon, a holy Christian war, and the second coming of Christ. Since the inception of the evangelical movement in the United States, predicting the end of the world has always been a full-time job for Christian evangelists and their supporters.

In the 1800s a preacher named William Miller predicted that the second coming would happen sometime between 1843 and 1844 based on his studies of the Bible. When March 21, 1844 came without anything happening, his followers set another date for October 22, 1844. After the aforementioned date came and nothing happened the movement collapsed.

Preacher Charles Taze Russell founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted that the End of the World would occur in 1914 based on a prophecy found in the book of Daniel, Chapter 4.

David Davidson predicted that the world would end in 1953 in his book entitled “The Great Pyramid, Its Divine Message”.

David Berg founder of The Children of God a Christian religious group predicted that a comet would hit the earth in the mid 1970’s and destroy the United States. When nothing happened he predicted the Battle of Armageddon would take place in 1986. He claimed that Russia would defeat the United States and Israel and a worldwide Communist dictatorship would commence. He also said that Jesus would return to the earth in 1993.

Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church Los Angeles while on the Trinity Broadcasting Network warned of an apocalyptic event that would occur on June 9th, 1994 based on a vision from God. He said that God will rip the evil out of this world.

Harold Camping wrote a book that was published in 1992 entitled, “Sept. 15, 1994: Last Day and Return of Christ” where he stated, “Last Day and return of Christ sometime on or between September 15, 1994…and September 27, 1994.” (p.531) and, “I will be surprised if we reach October 1, 1994.” (p.533)

In the book “The Return of Jupiter: End of the world in the light of the Bible” it states, “A terrible earthquake is going to break the oceanic earth crust under the Pacific Ocean by the year 1996 AD.”

Author of “The Bible Code”, Michael Drosnin said that he had found a message in the Pentateuch that predicted World War 3 starting in 2000 involving a worldwide atomic holocaust.

And the list goes on and on. For further reference check out the article, “220 Dates for the End of the World!!! Date Setters!”

But I think nothing scared me more as a young Christian kid regarding the end of the world than the infamous 1981 Orson Welles narrated documentary about the predictions of the evil soothsayer, the false prophet, the originator of Islamophobia, Michel Nostradamus. I was fascinated with biblical prophecy at a young age so when I was bombarded with the Anti-Islamic rhetoric propagated from this documentary I waited in fear for the 90s.

Basing information on the false predictions of Nostradamus, the narrator alleged that from 1994 to 1999 a “Muslim King” from Arabia wearing a blue turban will bring about World War 3 and the destruction of the United States. By mid 1992, I had discovered Islam and read an English translation of the Quran from beginning to end. I started to re-read the Bible and compare it to what I read in the Quran. I focused on what the Quran said about the end of the world and on what Muhammad taught about it. By the end of 1992, I had accepted Islam and became a Muslim. When nothing remotely close to Nostradamus’ predictions occurred in 1994 and then later in 1999, my faith and belief in what I had read in the Quran and in the teachings of Muhammad increased. In another post, Allah willing, we will look at the fallacies contained within this documentary.

The Quran states very explicitly: {Indeed the knowledge of the final hour is only with Allah.} And in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree in Kitaab-ut-Tawheed under the explanation of the verses in the Quran that deal with the knowledge of everything belonging only to Allah, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “The keys of the unseen are five, none knows them except for Allah; no one knows what the wombs will bring forth except for Allah. No one knows what tomorrow will bring except for Allah. No one knows what the rain will bring forth except for Allah. No soul knows in what land it will die in except for Allah. And no one knows when the final hour will come except for Allah.”

And in the same section his wife ‘Aaishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “…Whoever tells you that Muhammad, peace be upon him, knew the unseen then he has lied as Allah has said in His book: No one knows the unseen except for Allah.”

In a well-known narration found in Saheeh Muslim, the angel Gabriel approached him and asked him a series of questions. One of the questions he asked him was, “Tell me about the final hour (of mankind).” The Prophet responded, “The one being questioned (him), knows as much as the one asking the question.” (All of the translations of the Quranic verse and the prophetic narrations are mine.)

Even after embracing Islam and becoming Muslim, I could hardly escape the evangelists’ outlandish predictions about my new found faith such as when Anish Shorosh, the self-proclaimed Grand Mufti of Arab Christians, appeared on the late Zola Levitt’s televangelist show Zola Levitt Presents in the mid 90’s, claiming that by the year 2000, Islam would cease to be practiced and there would be no more Muslims on earth! And now here we are ten years later, and there are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world today and still growing!

{They intend to put out the light of Allah with their mouths. But Allah will bring His Light to perfection even though the disbelievers hate it. He is the One Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it victorious over all other religions even though the polytheists hate it.} Soorat-us-Saff: 7 - 9

During the Y2K scare in 1999, my mother’s younger sister had joined one of our cousin’s deviant Christian cults. She turned one of her rooms into a storage room filled with food, water, medical supplies, etc. all in preparation for the “end days”. I tried to explain to her that the Y2K issue was only in regards to possible computer systems malfunctioning due to the rolling over to the new millennium. At the time I was working with a major telecommunications company, and the companies’ IT department had briefed us on what to say to customers regarding their Internet accounts. I told her that this would most likely affect the West since it highly relied on technology but other areas in the world would be hardly affected. I also explained that as a Muslim our calendar was not at the year 1999 and the year 2000 had no significance to us. The Jewish calendar had surpassed the year 2000 long ago and the Jews were doing just fine! When 2000 came and nothing happened all of my relatives told her, “See Tomas told you so!”

Today the Christians are at again only this time in full force! Now everyone is a prophet, everyone can see the future, everyone knows the end days but these same people can’t even tell us where Usamah bin Ladin is! Take William Tapley for instance. This man says he is the third eagle mentioned in the book of Revelations and that he is a co-prophet. On January 15, 2009 he predicted that U.S President Barack Obama will start World War 3 sometime between 2009 and 2010. It is now the beginning of December 2010 and World War 3 still hasn’t started!

From President Obama busting open his lip to someone passing gas in the streets, if it happens Mr. Tapley will predict it!

When I was a Christian, I always sufficed myself with the New Testament verses and I think this will suffice to end here, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, BUT the Father alone.”

Recommended Books to Open and Elevate the Mind

2010-11-30T14:08:00.012-05:00

I have compiled a list of links to beneficial books for non-Muslims and even the Muslim brothers and sisters regarding Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, the Bible, and Christianity. To download just click on the title of the book. All of these can be found at kalamullah.com at the following link for non-Muslims: http://www.kalamullah.com/non-muslims.html

The Life of Jesus in Islam

Extract from book, 'The life of the Prophet Isa, peace be upon him, has been a topical issue of late in the media as well as in popular culture. There is a new awareness and heightened curiosity worldwide regarding the amazing life and miracles of Isa, peace be upon him. His personality has impacted the three major religions of this world, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Given the importance of his time on earth, it is critical for mankind to fully understand his pivotal role in shaping history as well as the final days.'

The Islamic View of Jesus

By Ibn Kathir
This Book is Compiled from the Works of Ibn Kathir. Jesus the Miracle Baby, The Prophet of Allah his Second Coming are amongst many of the issues discussed in this book.

What Did Jesus REALLY Say?

By Misha'al ibn Abdullah
The book contains detailed information and descriptions that show how the Bible was changed and tampered with over the past two millennia. The account and the discussions presented are based on, and collected from, the writings of Christian authors, the Church and the Bible.

The True Message of Jesus Christ

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Published by Dar Al Fatah in 1996 Description An analytic look at Jesus' person and the content of his message. Examines Christian sources historically and textually and compares them with the Islamic point of view as found in the Quran and Sunnah.

Christianity – Original and Present Reality

From the author's introduction, 'This is a very brief summary in which I intend to clarify the origin of Christianity (Nasraaniyah) and its current reality. It is principally intended for a Christian in order that he may be aware of the roots of his belief. He will perhaps come to understand how Christianity has undergone change and substitution to the point that it has evolved into a man-made composition – this, after having once been a Divine message. I have made it a point to bring forth, within this summary, those evidences that brought forth the truth of the matter from actual texts of the Torah (Tawrah) and the Injeel.2 This was done to illustrate, to every Christian reader, my intention to point out the truth and to guide towards that which is correct. Thus I write, seeking Allâh’s help.'

Promised Prophet of the Bible

Extract from book, ' There is no doubt that the prophet-hood of our prophet Muhammad (saw) is one of two important tasks that the Muslim is carrying to humanity. Muslims believe that to prove the prophet-hood of Muhammad (saw) is one of many essential tasks in their religion; therefore, it is a compulsory duty for Muslims to present this evidence and proof.

Documentaries that Make you go Hmmmmm…The Age of Terror: In the Name of Liberation

2010-11-08T18:10:00.003-05:00

From the Doc: "This is the story of the birth of modern terrorism, of the activists who invented it, and of how it is being appropriated and dispersed around the globe."

Watch The Age of Terror - In the Name of Liberation: Freedom by Any Means - 1of4 in Educational & How-To | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Top Zionist Quotable: “We didn’t mind being called terrorist then, because we actually used force, such force, brutal force in order to get rid of them (the Palestinians).” Yechiel Kadishai, Former Private Secretary to Menachem Begin

Click here to see the entire documentary.

Pulling the Heads out of the Anuses of the staff at the ReligionofPeace.com

2010-10-24T20:44:00.004-04:00

Responding to the Article entitled “Islamic Terror Attacks on American Soil”
Written by: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee

Introduction and an Examination of the Frivolous

I recently came across a hilariously Islamophobic article entitled “Islamic Terror Attacks on American Soil” in which a rather bewildered and misinformed author alleges that since April, 14th 1972 up until April, 14th 2010 there have been 67 Islamic Terror Attacks in America with victims numbering close to 3,098!

Click Here to Read the Article

The Occupation of Palestine: Beneficial Audio Lecture

2010-10-14T13:30:00.002-04:00

Listen to internet radio with Knowing True Islaam on Blog Talk Radio

This program deals with the Islamic perspective with regards to the occupation of Palestine. This lecture will be delivered by Shaykh Jalal Abu-ar-Rub.

Click Here to Go to Blog Talk Radio: Knowing True Islaam

Israel-Palestine: The Missing Headlines

2010-10-12T15:02:00.003-04:00

My mother is always asking me about the conflict in the occupied territories of Palestine and why there is so much killing. Throughout the years I have always explained it to her in a simple yet thought-provoking manner.

“Mom, it’s kind of like what happened to Mexico in the 1800s; Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, etc. were all a part of Mexico. Then the United States invaded these lands and fought a war and took them from the Mexicans. The only difference is that the Mexicans never fought to get their land back, they just left it to the Americans. (Can you even imagine a reoccurring Mexican/U.S. conflict similar to the Palestinian one!?) Well the Zionists (I say Zionists because Zionism is a terrorist man-made ideology not to be confused with Judaism which is a religion with merit found within the Quran, and God-fearing Jews follow Judaism) did the same thing in Palestine only the Palestinians not only want the land that was wrongfully taken from them they are fighting to get it back!”

Weird example, I know, but she got the gist of it so to speak. At any rate, I came across this very beneficial site called “If American knew; what every American needs to know about Israel/Palestine”. I found it to be very informative and it doesn’t portray Muslims in a negative light as we always seem to be portrayed. (But after reading on the site that CNN, the Associated Press, Time, etc. are all ran by Zionists, I think now more than ever Muslims need to set up their own forms of Global Media and counterattack the rising Islamophobia happening over there in the West.)

So without further ramblings I provide the link for your reference, enjoy!

If Americans Knew Site

Beneficial Article to Distribute to the Non-Muslims

2010-09-09T19:19:00.005-04:00

I found this very thought-provoking article on The Islamic Post site the other day. I am posting the entire article and then the link for reference. Enjoy.

What the Bible Says About Prayer and Prostration

In this day and time of pseudo patriotism, partisan political drama, and theatrical religious pundits, it becomes necessary almost daily to step back from the corporate media machine and call for a personal time out. The sensory overload of bad news –real, imagined and manufactured– can and does create hyper stress over time for millions of people worldwide.
To relieve stress:, people turn to a diverse array of distractions: intoxicants, gambling, debauchery, television fixations, non stop music, and emotional rages of all sorts for short term relief. Little do most people realize that an ancient solution and panacea for all of our anxieties lies in worship, and in particular, prayer.

Looking beyond our different names for the Almighty and focusing on His guidance for salvation and happiness, we can pray in the prescribed way, not our own, and discover why He alone is worthy of praise and glory.
The following list contains Biblical references that describe prostration, the key element of a Muslim’s prayer.

1. Abram fell face down, and God said to him. GENESIS17:3

2. When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. Genesis 24:51-53

3. Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. Genesis 48:11-13

4. Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. Exodus 34:7-9

5. Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Numbers 14:5

6. “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua 5:13-15

7. Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:17-19

8. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 7:2-4

9. Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
1 Samuel 24:7-9

10. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-7

11. While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. Daniel 10:14-16

12. When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. Matthew 17:5-7

13. Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. Mark 14:34-36

There are over thirty Biblical verses that range from Genesis to Revelation depicting the mode of prayer of the believers, which join us together in prayer and worship.

-Compiled by Basil Shaheed

Click to Read Article

My First ‘Umrah to the Sacred House of Allah

2010-09-03T16:00:00.017-04:00

By: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee –may Allah guide him

On Thursday July 16th 2010 I left my comfortable villa surroundings in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bus bound for Makkah, home of al-Masjid al-Haraam (the Prohibited Mosque) termed so because no non-Muslim is allowed to enter its precincts. I was going there to perform my very first pilgrimage called al-‘Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be made at any time, distinct from the major pilgrimage which is made once a year in the month of Dhul-Hijjah and where millions of Muslim pilgrims convene from all over the world.

It only cost me 150 Saudi Riyals (that’s $40.00 US Dollars!) for my bus ticket for a ride that would take almost ten hours to endure. The view from the outskirts of Riyadh on the way to Makkah was astonishing. I felt like I was right back in biblical times as I viewed mountains and landscapes that came right out of the bible! When I was a Catholic, I had made a pilgrimage to Mt. Cristo del Rey as a young boy so I was used to the idea of pilgrimage when I converted to Islam. What I didn’t know was that I was on my way to an ancient place that my eyes had never before seen or even imagined could be real; a place of total peace, serenity, and spirituality.

The steps for al-‘Umrah are shorter than those for al-Hajj but in a nutshell they are the following:

One: Putting on the Ihraam garb

A Muslim man wears only two sheets of white cloth with a belt that fastens the bottom part. He does not cover his head and wears only sandals. The woman wears her regular clothes but is not allowed to wear gloves or the face cover tied around her, she must place it above her head and let it flow over her face. Since I was coming from Riyadh known as the Najd area, I put on the Ihraam clothes at a place called Qarn al-Manaazil now known as as-Sayl al-Kabeer about 45 minutes from Makkah. The bus driver pulled into the stop area and those of us there for the ‘Umrah went out to the public showers to bathe and put on our Ihraam. It was already close to one in the morning when we arrived but there were hundreds of people out and about. I quickly bathed and anxiously put on my Ihraam.

Two: Reciting the Talbiyyah prayer from the place you put on your Ihraam to al-Masjid al-Haram

After one puts on the Ihraam and makes the intention to perform the ‘Umrah a beautiful prayer is recited audibly. I want to mention that there are many prayers that are recited while performing the ‘Umrah that I will not mention here but for those Muslims reading this then they should refer to the printed works of the Muslim scholars on what should be recited and when. The Talbiyyah goes like this:

Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka Laa Shaeerka Laka Labbayk, Inna al-Hamda Laka wan-Ni’mah, Laa Shareeka Laka Labbayk which means: O Allah I am here responding to You, I am here responding to You, There is no partner with You, I am here responding to You, Indeed all praise and blessing is for you, There is no partner with You, I am here responding to You. All throughout the ‘Umrah I would remind myself of the oneness of God and His constant blessings and favors upon me.

Three: Entering Makkah and al-Masjid al-Haram

Once we were entering the outskirts of Makkah there were traffic signs directing non-Muslims to take other routes away from the city. We reached a check point and were waved through quickly. As I looked out the bus I was amazed at the beauty of Makkah, some parts looked ancient, some parts looked modern, some parts dirty, some parts clean. There were mosques everywhere and surprisingly a lot of traffic and people up and about even though it was close to two in the morning.

I could not believe that there were no non-Muslims in this city. The thought amazed me. I immediately reflected upon on my conversion. Before Islam I had been programmed by the media, the news, within American printed literature, even in public school, to believe that Muslims were evil terrorists, bomb-toting violent people hell bent on taking over the world. However as I embraced this beautiful faith and befriended many American Muslims, many of who had migrated from all parts of the globe; whether from the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, or Europe, I was always treated with brotherly love, kindness, and respect. And as I lived in Egypt and Saudi Arabia it was the Arab Muslims who would embrace me, hug me and tell me how honored they were to have met a Mexican-American Muslim. Never had I been treated with such hospitality and dignity. The Muslim people of the world are truly my brothers in religion and my dearest of friends.

And here I was in a place where no one was going to attack me, no one was going to hurt me or make fun of me for being Muslim. I immediately felt at peace in Makkah.

As we got closer to the Haram I could see pilgrims everywhere, the streets were crowded and the city was alive, shops open, restaurants filled with the smells of beef, chicken, and sweet onions. As the bus left us off in front of the Haram I was in shock at the bright lights glowing from within. I wanted to just run in and see it but I knew I had to find a hotel, put my bags up and get some rest. It was now 2:30 in the morning and my body was ready for some sleep. I found the nearest hotel and quickly laid down.

I was awoken by the call to prayer and once I wiped the sleep from my eyes I headed out to make the Morning Prayer. The Haram was packed. After praying I made my morning supplications and headed towards the Ka’bah.

Four: Going around the Ka’bah seven times

The next step in my ‘Umrah was to go around the Ka’bah, the black stone cube that marks the point of where the throne of Allah is above the seven heavens. As a Catholic I always heard missionaries claim that the Ka’bah was a rock that Arabs worshiped. After embracing Islam and studying it I discovered that this was untrue. The Bible states that the early patriarchs (the early Muslims) used to erect stone cubes where they worshiped God just as it is done today in Makkah. In Genesis 28 verses 18 – 19 we are told that Jacob built a stone pillar to worship in called Beth-El, the house of the Lord. Years later in Genesis 35 verses 4 – 15, Jacob was commanded by the Lord to go back to Beth-El and remove the idols and graven images. If you read about the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon, you will find that he did the same thing in Makkah when he destroyed the idols and established the worship of only Allah as the previous Prophets had, peace be upon them all.

I was standing in the temple that Prophet Abraham, the father of Isaac and Ishmael, peace be upon them, built as commanded by Allah. This was the place that He would send His final Prophet to teach mankind His oneness.

The sun was slowly coming up but it was still dark, hundreds of pilgrims began to make their way to perform their circling of the Ka’bah. As I made my way around I felt the wind of a multitude of birds flying past us. I could hear their chirps. Then I began to notice the throngs of people surrounding me. People from all parts of the world; Malaysians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Yemenis, Filipinos, Albanians, Iranians, everyone was there. Male, female, young, old, the weak, the strong, babies held by their mothers as they cried due to the heat of the intensity of the people going around in a circle in unity. I couldn’t hold back and I began to cry.

Five: Praying two units of prayer behind the station of Abraham (Ibraaheem)

After going around the Ka’bah seven times and failing miserably each time to reach the Ka’bah due to the intensity of the crowds, I made my way to the station of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, and prayed my two units of prayer. The sun was now in full effect and beaming down on the pilgrims.

Six: Going back and forth from mount as-Safaa to al-Marwah seven times and drinking Zam-Zam water

After the prayer units I made my way to the mounts of as-Safaa and al-Marwah. It was here that Hajar the mother of Prophet Ishmael, who at that time was a young child, was left by Prophet Abraham, peace be upon them, with a water skin filled with water. When she asked him if Allah had commanded him to leave them there in that desolate place, he responded in the affirmative and made his way back home. Left alone in the desert with nothing she ran between the mounts of as-Safaa and al-Marwah seven times looking for water. When she supplicated to Allah for respite the angel Gabriel, peace be upon him, struck the ground and out gushed the spring of Zam-Zam. To this day the spring and the two mounts are present.

At first I didn’t think much of the first walk from as-Safaa to al-Marwah but by the time I got to the third walk I was ready to stop for a small break. While the Zam-Zam water was nice and cold my heart was racing with every step and my bare feet began to ache.

An older man fell to the floor, paramedics rushed to revive him but I could tell it was too late, he wasn’t breathing and the angel of death had come for him. I felt a sense of jealousy that this older pilgrim spent his last hour engaged in such a beautiful act of worship at such a beautiful place. The beautiful supplication that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to say came to mind: O Allah increase my wealth and children, bless me in what you have given me, lengthen my life in obedience to you, and make my deeds good and forgive me of my sins.

Seven: Shaving the head, removing al-Ihraam, bathing, and then putting on regular clothes

After completing the rites of al-‘Umrah I was tired. Upon exiting the Haram I searched for the nearest restaurant and bought a plate of food, made my way back to the hotel, and after filling my belly and a nice shower, I fell into a coma like sleep. And while I hope this will be the beginning of many more Umrah’s and eventually Hajj, having to leave Makkah later that day made me realize the many blessings that Allah has given me; a humble life, good wives, beautiful children, obedient step children, righteous friends, and a loving mother, sister, and family. And this is why I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion, and Muhammad as my Prophet, peace be upon him.

Glorify Allah with His Praise!

2010-08-09T07:32:00.001-04:00

In the Muslim world you are constantly reminded of Allah. Whether walking to the store or just taking a road trip the reminders are always there. This is just one of many that I see everyday. It is a large billboard in al-Khobar displayed on the highway. I translated it as follows:

From the Office for Propagation and Guidance in the Province of al-Khobar:

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that there are two words that are light on the tongue but heavy on the scales while beloved to ar-Rahmaan:

Subhaana Allah bi-Hamdih (Glorified is Allah by His praise) and Subhaana Allah al-‘Atheem (Glorified is Allah the Mighty).

In America the billboards tell you where you can find liquor and strip clubs…in Saudi Arabia the billboards tell you how to remember the Creator!

Quiz: Is this verse from the Bible or from the Quran?

2010-07-21T05:17:00.000-04:00

“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it…”

Answer: It is from Malachi 2!

A Blast from the Past: Christian on Christian terrorism; the Birmingham Church Bombing

2010-07-21T05:00:00.004-04:00

Pain over Birmingham church bombings lingers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Forty years have passed since a bomb killed four black girls on a Sunday morning at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, and a chapter has been closed with the recent convictions of two one-time Ku Klux Klansmen long suspected in the crime.

But the tragedy remains painfully fresh in Birmingham.

The church walls still bear cracks caused by the explosion on Sept. 15, 1963, and so does Birmingham's reputation, fairly or not. "It was probably the most heinous terrorist attack in America before 9/11," said Kenneth Robbins, who wrote City of Churches, one of two bombing-related books that are being released around the 40th anniversary.

Church members will remember the girls' deaths with a three-day commemoration that begins Sunday, said the Rev. Arthur Price Jr. A memorial service will be held Monday and a revival service Tuesday.

The old brick church still gets some 80,000 visitors annually, most of them drawn by its history rather than the day's religious messages. "It's just a part of who we are," said Price, 38. Still, he said, the congregation longs to be known more for its ministries than as the site of an awful crime.

"We're very intentional about the fact we're here to worship the Lord," Price said. "Before 1963, this church was here for 90 years. What happened here is an attraction. But for us, it is not the attraction."

Relatives of the girls still search for meaning in their deaths.

"We are still dealing with the seeds of human hate," said Shirley Wesley King of Dallas, Texas, sister of bombing victim Cynthia Wesley.

Click here to read full article

Don't be afraid of Islam, says Al-Sudais

2010-07-19T01:57:00.001-04:00

JEDDAH: The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah told the world not to be afraid of Islam and Muslims, adding that Islam represents a message of peace, goodness and tolerance.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais made the announcement while delivering his Friday sermon at the Tauheedul Islam Mosque in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.

The new Tauheedul Islam Mosque is the largest in Lancashire and cost 3.5 million pounds ($5.37 million). Qatar's royal family provided an initial donation of 1.5 million pounds for the basic construction of the mosque, with the remainder generated from the Blackburn community. The community had outgrown the much smaller mosque, which was established at the same site in the 1960s.

In his sermon, Al-Sudais said: "Islam came to protect the interests of humanity, prevent evils and build bridges with all communities. It offers a great message of mercy and tolerance."

The Makkah imam urged Muslims living in Western countries to abide by the laws of the countries where they reside. "You should be a positive and constructive factor in the community you live and should not involve yourselves in activities that would undermine its security and stability,"...

Click here to read full article

Your Shahadah Story #7

2010-07-06T02:13:00.000-04:00

Your Muslim name: Umm Saalihah bint Brown

How long have you been Muslim? 16 years

Has Islam changed your life? In what way?

Islaam has changed my life by clarifying for me many things that caused doubts and confusion in my period of ignorance. Prior to Islaam, I had many unanswered questions – what was my purpose in this life, who was God, and what was the reason for the trials and tribulations of life, to name a few. Having a logical learning style, life didn’t make much sense to me and I was often unhappy, even though I tried to be a decent person. On my journey to Islaam, a set of Sahih Muslim in English sat on the bookshelf of my companion and I, which I would read and recount the different Islamic aspects that I encountered with my friend, a new convert. This knowledge was essential in my journey because of the logic in many of the Ahaadeeth I read walhamdulilaah.

All praises is for Allaah who guided me and my children upon the path of the righteous. The period before Allaah’s guidance was filled with mediocre attempts of achieving success. The period after contains knowledge of how to achieve success in this life and the Hereafter and the many tools and resources that Allaah has provided me with to strive for His pleasure.

Your Shahadah Story #6

2010-07-04T01:42:00.001-04:00

Your Muslim name: Abu Yusuf/ Birth Name: Javier Llamas

How long have you been Muslim? 9 years

Has Islam changed your life? Yes, Islam has changed my life.

In what way? It has given me direction on what I am here for.

Briefly describe how you became Muslim:

I was born into a Roman Catholic family and did my studies in Catholic school, first communion, confirmation (these are different levels) and was an Alter boy. I remember being in class as a young boy and always asking why we prayed to the Virgin Mary and Jesus- Peace be upon them both and never really got a clear answer. We always prayed “our father who is in Heaven” So I knew he was above us and would always ask “Oh God please, please help me understand your religion”, anyways I departed from that in my teenage years and was in a lifestyle full of destruction and one day just abandoned all acquaintances and left all bad habits and remember thinking I don’t need this, I don’t want this, God help me. I was a different, confused person by the next day and religion was my enemy.

Anyways, I will skip ahead a bit. I looked into Christianity, Buddhism, Atheism-never heard about Islam. I got married and my wife’s sister who was married to a man from the Middle East came back from Jordan to visit, she was not the same person I remembered growing up with. She was now fully covered and was a Muslim, I didn’t think much about it. She then came a second time from Jordan to visit her sister and give her Dawah (Islamic propagation), she had a dream of her sister prostrating in prayer-My wife was now a Muslim. I didn’t think much of it, it didn’t bother me. I use to wake up early and hear her in the bathroom -water running and then pretend I was sleeping and watch her with a book in hand doing all these movements and speaking a language I did not understand in the early morning? She did this 5 times a day and on top of that she started fasting and I would drive her to a local mosque and drop her off for classes- I was in no opposition. I just did not want religion and would always think-how will this work?

Little did I know she was calling on our creator Allah this whole time making Dua (supplication) for me to be guided. She had a dream she never told me about, she held on to it like gold- kept it a secret-It was a dream of a man washing his feet (doing Wudu (Islamic purification)) and it was me in white and a beard. So I moved to North Carolina after praying to God (at that time) asking for guidance and I moved. I looked into Islam on my own, read The Quran and Hadith (the Prophetic Narrations) explanations in The Quran with the Surahs (Chapters) and the thing was I had no opposition to this, no pressure from anyone, it was me looking into it on my own and the thing was I had a feeling of this is the truth, this book calls to the Worship of The creator who is in the heavens above us and the Prophets are all familiar to me and it does not call to pray or worship Muhammad peace be upon him- And the clarification it brought of Eessa ibn Mariam (Jesus the son of Mary)-it was truth. The Fitrah (the natural disposition the children of Adam are created upon knowing only one God), I new what this was now, what I always felt. I took Shahadah (the testimony of faith), Alhamdulillah (all praise is to Allah).

Your Shahadah Story #5

2010-06-23T19:29:00.001-04:00

My journey to Islam by Rasheed Barbee

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الحمد لله الذى هدانا لهذا وما كنا لنهتدى لولا ان هدانا الله

I recall meeting a Muslim for the first time in 1989 when I left my home town of Raleigh North Carolina and joined the United States Army as a Military Policeman. I would continue to encounter several Muslims while stationed near Hagerstown Maryland, but I can not recall anyone calling me to Islam. Although there was a sergeant in my unit who had previously been stationed in Turkey and he was married to a Turkish woman; he said his wife was making him read the Koran and he was reading a chapter entitled ‘the cow’. I remember him saying to me, ‘you have to read this, this book is amazing’. He was Caucasian, and this was significant because it would aid me in understanding that Islam was not a ‘black’ or ‘Arab’ religion.

During a tour in South Korea from 1992 to 1993 I became very interested in religion but I didn’t know which religion to follow. I remember one night while returning from the movies I began to pray, ‘oh God, I am calling upon You and only You, please guide me to the religion You love the most, Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.’ When I returned to my room and looked out the window I saw what I thought to be a crescent moon and at the time I mistakenly believed it to be an Islamic symbol so I said, I am going to be a Muslim. Although I was determined to be a Muslim I had no idea what Islam was, and I had no idea I was soon to encounter a belief that was further from Islam than the east is from the west.

While still in South Korea, a new soldier coming from New York was assigned to our unit. He had with him several books written by Dwight York, leader of the Ansar Cult. He said he did not follow the Ansar Community himself, but he found their teachings interesting. I read each and every one of the books he loaned me and I even went to the catalog in the back of the book and ordered several books of my own; but to my dismay the books never came.

In 1993 I was reassigned to Herlong, California (70 miles north of Reno, Nevada) to complete my final tour in the military. At this time I had not read much literature about Islam and for some reason I had never even thought of getting a copy of the Koran; but I still wanted desperately to be a Muslim.

While in California I heard about a book that was going to ‘unveil’ the ‘truth’ about Islam; a novel entitled ‘the satanic verses’ written by a devil named Salman Rushdie. I made my way to the store, purchased the book and read it cover to cover. After reading the book I was furious at how this man could insult the angel Jibreel, and the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings are upon them both. So for the first time in my life I decided to buy a copy of the Koran to read it for myself.

Upon reading the verse where Allah says, (what can be translated as) “this is the book in which there is no doubt”; (Chapter 2 verse 2) I paused in amazement. I thought, ‘how could someone write in the beginning of a book that this book has no doubts in it, this must be from my Creator. So I read the Koran from cover to cover, and I began to pray using a ‘guide to prayer’ book and I fasted the month of Ramadan; although I still had not taken my testimony of faith and I had no idea what the pillars of Islam were and I still had traces of the Ansar Cult within.

I received an honorable discharge from the military in 1994 and upon my return to Raleigh, North Carolina I began looking in the phone book for anyone with a Muslim name and I starting calling brothers asking someone to tell me how to become a Muslim. I was directed to the Masjid at Shaw University.

One Friday after the Jumah service at Shaw University, a young brother introduced himself. He said his name was Umar (Brown) Bryant, may Allah have mercy upon him. Perhaps it was apparent that I was new to the Masjid so he began making small talk and causal conversation. But I was intent on sharing with him some of my views on Islam. And at the time I was a young confident (arrogant) man who loved to debate, just for the sake of debating and I was still greatly affected by the Ansar beliefs. So I was preparing to tell Umar how all the of Prophets were black (an erroneous belief I learned from the Ansar cult) And I was prepared to argue with him from any angle that he could come, and I was confident I was going to defeat him in this debate, I had verses, I had proofs, I had pictures, I was ready for whatever answer he had; or so I thought.

So in the middle of the conversation I said to Umar, ‘Did you know that all the Prophets were black? He quickly replied, ‘so what’. “What’s your point?” I stood silenced; all I could do was smile. I replied, I guess I don’t have a point. He said, ‘come with me, and we began to walk through the city to get to his car. On the way he told me to roll my pants up, and take off my gold ring. He took me inside his home, a stranger whom he had never met, and he began to teach me Islam.

Shorty after, he introduced me to his close friend, a brother I had actually known since middle school by the name of (Abu Zanib) Mikael Chavis. They gave me my shahada and we became like family.

I swear by Allah, shortly after this, the books from the Ansar Cult that I had ordered in 1992 while in South Korea were delivered to my parents’ mail box in Raleigh. I remember opening the mail box, seeing the books, laughing, walking to the garbage can and flinging the books to their rightful destination.

Written
7 Rajab 1431/ 19 June 2010

The one in need of Allah’s mercy
Abu Qayla Rasheed Barbee
Durham, NC

Your Shahadah Story #4

2010-06-19T02:10:00.003-04:00

Your Muslim name: Khadeejah

How long have you been Muslim? 9 years

Has Islam changed your life? In what way? Before Islam, my religious beliefs were based on traditions and wishful thinking. They were very hollow and did not fill my heart with conviction. I lived to fulfill my desires and never gave much thought to what would happen when I died. When Islam entered my heart, all of that changed. Islam has given me the true purpose for living and shown me how to be good in every way and in every circumstance. Having a clear goal (earning the pleasure of my Creator) has instilled in me a deep sense of accountability - Allaah says: "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?" (meaning of Al-Mu'minun 23:115). I remember one of the first things I read after I became a Muslim was this saying of `Alee-May Allaah be pleased with him: Verily, this worldly life is departing and the Hereafter is approaching and each of them has its children. So be children of the Hereafter, not children of this world, for today there are (opportunities to do) deeds and there is no reckoning, but tomorrow there will be reckoning and no deeds. Those words had a profound effect on me. I always ask Allaah to make me and my loved ones from the ‘children of the Hereafter’.

Briefly describe how you became Muslim: I was raised as a Catholic but midway through my high school years I stopped attending Sunday mass regularly as I became disenchanted with the rituals and dogmas of the religion, not to mention the hypocrisy I perceived in many of my peers and elders. My father always used to stress the importance of the Sermon on the Mount and the teachings of Jesus, but I rarely - if ever – saw these acted upon by anyone I knew. After a while, I “practiced” my faith only at Christmas and Easter, weddings and funerals.

When I was in college, I became interested in the occult and began to formulate my own religion that included belief in Daoism, Santeria, and new-age Christianity, while putting my trust in astrology, chakras, and the I-Ching. I still believed that God the father was the Creator of everything but I failed to comprehend that He alone was in control of all the worldly affairs and so I fell into all types of shirk as I was searching for answers and guidance.

I graduated from art school as a photographer and went travelling to photograph the world. I spent a couple of weeks in Morocco and had my first encounter with Islam. I wanted to learn about it thinking I would take from it and add it to my made up religion. I bought a paperback Koran published by Penguin. The author was anonymous which at the time made it even more mysterious to me. After skimming through the chapter titles - “the sun”, “the moon”, ”the stars”, “the light”, “the comfort”, “the proof” ... I was convinced it would be just what I needed to round out my religion. I read it with the veil still over my heart and soon it was just another book on my bookshelf between “The Prophet” and “Siddhartha”.

A few years went by and one night I was in a club taking photos for a promotion. I met a man there who had just embraced Islam and talked passionately about his new faith and experiences. I was intrigued since I knew a little about Islam (or so I thought!). We exchanged numbers and started hanging out. He would tell me that the Creator was the only true God and that He ordained just one religion for all of humanity since the beginning of time. That every time humans strayed from the right religion, God sent prophets and messengers to guide them back to the truth. He used to read from his “Noble Qur’aan” and I would follow along with my Penguin Classic Koran. After being together for a month, I was preparing to go on a photo assignment in Mexico and I asked him to trade books with me so that I could read the “Noble Qur’aan” while on my trip. Islaam was entering my heart. Before I left for Mexico, I cleaned my house of all the crosses, astrology charts, and occult books. I wanted to worship only the Creator.

While on assignment, my life really started to change. When I wasn’t photographing, I was reading the Noble Qur’aan. I declined to accompany my colleagues to bars or nights out dancing. I had given up drinking completely and wore long skirts with long sleeve shirts. One morning I went from the hotel to a café next door and ordered a cup of coffee. I sat on the veranda looking across at the Pacific Ocean with my Noble Quraan in front of me. I opened it up randomly and began to read: Say (O Muhammad –sallaallaahu`alayhi was-sallam- to mankind). "if the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely, the sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished, even if we brought (another sea) like it for its aid." (Al-Kahf 18:109). I looked out at the ocean again and that was the moment that Islaam permeated my heart. I knew I was a Muslim.

After two weeks I was in the airport waiting for my friend to pick me up. I was so excited and told him I was a Muslim and wanted to make my shahada. He dropped me off at my home and said he would be back the next morning to take me to fajr prayer at the local masjid. The next day we went into the masjid and it was still dark. I sat in the back of the prayer room and watched as about fifteen men prayed fajr. Then my friend brought two Arab men over to me and they asked me if I was certain about what I wanted to do. The older one told me my whole life would change – that my clothing would be different, and what I ate and drank too. That I would lose my friends and maybe even my family and was I prepared for all of this? I didn’t even hesitate; I said I want to be Muslim. He asked me if I knew how to purify myself and pray - I said I was learning and could recite the Faatihah as I memorized its meanings in English. Then he told me to repeat after him: “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wa ana Muhammadin Rasoolullaah”. The man gave me a Qur’aan and told me his wife would help me if I wanted her help. May Allaah reward them all the good in this life and the Next.

I opened the door and stepped into a vibrant world that pulsed with Islaam. I stepped into the first day of the rest of my life. As we learned more about the commandments and prohibitions of our new faith, my friend and I eventually parted ways. I ask Allaah to reward him with Jannatul-Firdaus for teaching me the truth about the Creator and the beauty of Islam.

Your Shahadah Story #3

2010-06-13T01:54:00.002-04:00

Your Muslim name: Abu Yaseen Musa Abdullah

How long have you been Muslim? 19 years

Has Islam changed your life? In what way? Islam has changed my life in every conceivable way, and it has made all the difference in my life. It has given me peace of mind and a true sense of commitment that I searched my whole life for.

Briefly describe how you became Muslim: I became a Muslim after serving in the United States Marine Corp. I had seen Muslims in the Arabian Gulf but didn’t for some strange reason associate them with Islam. I had heard the Holy Quran but didn’t know what it was. After my tour in the Gulf, I decided to return home and go to college, and it was there that I met my first Muslim. I was his language partner in the English Language Institute, and we used to have long discussions about a variety of topics in English. One day he asked about my religion and I told him that I used to be a Christian but no longer believed in Christianity. He asked me if I knew anything about Islam? I said no. He told me about Allah and how he is the only God and the only one deserving of worship. I became a Muslim the very same day which was almost twenty years ago. I had been looking for the truth and was sure that I found it that day, and I haven’t looked back. I hope that Allah will reward the brother that guided me to Islam and reward all the Muslims throughout the whole world.

Check out Dajjaal.com

2010-06-02T03:28:00.003-04:00

This is a nice site covering the Islamic perspective regarding the Anti-Christ, the return of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), etc. I highly recommend it for non-Muslims and those new to Islaam. Click here to view Dajjaal.com

Your Shahadah Story #2

2010-05-23T00:40:00.001-04:00

Your Muslim name: Mai (Kunyah; Umm Khulood)

How long have you been Muslim?

22 years, al hamdu l'Illah! (since May 1988)

Has Islam changed your life? In what way?

Islam has changed me immensely. Due to Allah's amazing incentive scheme, I am desperate to please Him and emulate the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in every aspect of my life. The rewards for the simplest things, as long as they are grounded in sincere Tawakkal (trust in Allah) and Tawheed (pure monotheistic belief in Allah), are astounding. In having clear guidelines on how to live and behave, I have been freed of having to think about what is the best action. I have a clear purpose and goal in everything I do – Allah's Pleasure and His Jennah (paradise).

Briefly describe how you became Muslim:

I was working in Bahrain and was struck by all the inconsistencies I saw in the Muslims there. It was my first time in a Muslim country and nothing made sense. Many men acted as though they had never seen a woman before, beeping their horns as they passed by women on the street. Some religious men in short Thobes (Islamic gown worn by Muslim men) with long beards would avert their gaze and refuse to speak, while others would laugh and joke with me while talking about Islam. The women were a mixed bunch, with some wearing short skirts and full make-up, others in Niqaab (Islamic face cover). Then there was the Shi'a (a deviant sect of Islam) presence in Bahrain, which meant that I saw some people beating themselves during the first 10 days of Muharram and praying only three times a day.

It was the bad behavior, disobedience, and inconsistency of the Muslims that drove me to find out for myself what Islam truly was. I wanted to know what they SHOULD be doing. Allah's Plan included sending someone who talked to me whenever they came to my workplace. They simply spoke common sense and gave some eye-opening perspectives. One day, I mentioned that the things they told me were genius, and they told me it wasn't from them – it was Islam. From that point forward I asked question after question, from Hijab (Islamic head cover) and prayer to marriage and fasting.

Within two months, just before Ramadan 1988, I took my Shahadah (Islamic conversion), learned to pray and never looked back. I have never once questioned Islam as the Perfect Truth; it becomes more and more clear with every passing day. It is the biggest gift my Creator could give me in this life. Why me? I don't know. But all I can say is all thanks and praise be to Allah, the most generous, the most perfect provider of all needs.

Fast forward 20 years and my 68 year old father embraced Islam in England. I never imagined that he would accept Islam, not because he wouldn't believe, but because I thought he was too lazy to make such drastic life changes. Allah, yet again, has shown me His All-Encompassing Power. Anything is possible when Allah wills it. We can never know His Plan or who He will gift with the faith of Islam next.

Beneficial Notes concerning the Prophets (peace be upon them all)

2010-05-19T06:18:00.004-04:00

The Messengers of Allah are those whom Allah revealed the divine legislation to and then ordered them to convey it. The first of them is Nuh (Noah) and the last of them is Muhammad, peace be upon them both. The evidence for Nuh being the first is the statement of the Most High: {Indeed We have revealed to you as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets who came after him.} an-Nisaa’a: 163

And from the Sunnah is what has been established in the narrative concerning intercession when the people will say to Nuh, “You are the first messenger that Allah sent upon the earth.” [al-Bukhaaree 7440 and Muslim 194]

As for Adam then he is a Prophet (Nabee) not a Messenger (Rasool). As for the opinion that has been held by many historians and some of the scholars of Tafseer (Quranic commentary) that Prophet Idrees, peace be upon him, was before Nuh and that he was from his forefathers then the Quran and the Sunnah refute this. The correct stance is the evidence that has been mentioned within both texts. As for the evidence for Muhammad being the last Messenger, peace be upon him, then it is the statement of the Most High: {Muhammad is not a father of anyone of you he is only a Messenger of Allah and the last of the Prophets.} al-Ahzaab: 40

Taken from al-Maawiyyah of ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him which are notes from the Shaykh’s explanation of al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah: 100 benefits from the text and translated by Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee-may Allah guide him.

Your Shahadah Story #1

2010-05-17T23:57:00.002-04:00

Your Muslim name: Aboo Ayyoob’ Ismail Ibn Robert Downing

How long have you been Muslim? 9 years

Has Islam changed your life and in what way? Since becoming Muslim, my life has taken a complete 360 turn, in the way I live day to day, and made me a better person, Alhamdulillaah.

Briefly describe how you became Muslim:

I grew up a person that was solely attached to playing sports. I played football, basketball, but my passion was football. I lived in Virginia most of my life. My older brother was a football player also, he was very gifted in sports, therefore when in High School, I always chose to follow in the path he laid, being a high school football star. I was somewhat a popular person all throughout high school, then I got hurt playing football in my Junior year which left me sidelined for the rest of the season. During this period, it was rough for me, because I was trying to get a scholarship playing, and I knew this would mess my chances up. It was during this period, that Allaah, opened my eyes to question my current beliefs.

My parents are Christian; therefore I was raised that way. I never was explained anything my whole life about any of the beliefs. I would dread going to church as a little kid. As I grew older, my family went to church less, and less, therefore I had no religious attachment to Christianity, except by name, as is the case with most Christians.

One Day, I was sitting with my friends, and he mentioned the story of Jesus being resurrected. Me being, an ignorant Christian, that was the first time I ever heard the story in my whole life. Then he told me the story of Adam and Eve. I never knew any of this. It was all new to me, and I was about 17 years old at the time. So, I went home, and I read the New Testament in the Bible, and immediately after reading it, I said to myself “this seems all made up”. The next day, I was bothered about the whole Bible, and a lot of things didn’t make sense to me. At dinner, I asked my father to explain it to me, and he sat in amazement that I was even asking him this. I don’t quite remember his exact words, but I know that he didn’t have any real answers for me. At that point, I vowed to him, and my mother, that I would never go to Church again, because I didn’t believe in anything the Bible said, because it was too many unknown authors, and a lot of things didn’t make sense to me. That was my first eye opening period, in which I questioned my own beliefs.

My senior year was coming up, and I was focused on Football again. I was starting Quarterback, and Defensive back, I was in the newspaper as an upcoming player to watch out for this year, so in my eyes, everything was going good for me. Around the 6th game of the season, I got injured again. I dislocated my elbow, and was done for the rest of the year. Again, I was down because I knew that my chances of going to play College football were over. While I was injured, not playing, I had begun to read a lot of books. I read about different religions, and I had begun my quest up spirituality.

I had become a vegetarian, and did it as a way of trying to be pure and righteous. At the high school I went, to I don’t recall ever meeting a lot of Muslims, nor recall seeing too many. I had never met any Muslim directly my whole life, therefore the only way I knew about Islam was through my reading. I had read on, Rastafarianism, and was touched by it to an extent, and started to grow dreads, thinking I was guided. Then, after analyzing their beliefs, I found too many flaws. Then I started studying Chinese philosophy, I read the Art of War from Sun Tzu, and some other books, started trying to meditate. But through their way, I found no spiritual fulfillment, and nothing was explained as to why we are here, how we are created, and everything was just about inner peace, etc….. I left that ideology.

Then I read about a group called Five Percenters, and thought I was on something with them, I researched them thoroughly and found many flaws with their Ideology. They believed that Man is god, and that through Mans own self he determines his way, as thus he is himself a God. This group is wide spread up north in New York, and a lot of Rappers believe in this. I refused to accept the idea that man can be god, and found that they borrow a lot of concepts from the Ancient Egyptians. Soon after, I started to read about Islam. I went to borders books and purchased the Qur’an. I read it, read it, and continued to read it. After constantly reading it, just from my own reasoning, I thought that it couldn’t be written by man. I then got more books on Islam, and I knew that I believed in only one God, and that was the only thing that made sense to me at that point, which always led me back to Islam, in my quest.

After I graduated from High School, my family moved to Georgia. I didn’t want to go with them, and I tried to find any way to stay in Virginia, but at the end of the day I had to go with them. So we arrived in Georgia, and I worked at Home Depot full time, and went to tech school at night. On my lunch breaks at The Home Depot, I would bring the Qur’an with me, and read it. I was just fascinated with the Qur’an. It was something about it, and I couldn’t put my finger on it. After a couple of months, of researching I just felt in my heart, that there is no way that we could be put here on earth without purpose, and this was my main drive in searching for the truth. Islam was in my heart, and I knew it, but I kept delaying it, for fear of the response of my family.

I finally found the strength to make that big leap. I went on Google, and Googled “Mosque in Georgia”. The closest mosque I found was in Marietta, at the time, I lived in Acworth. I emailed the mosque through their email address. I addressed them stating that I wanted to become Muslim, but I didn’t know how to, because I have never met a Muslim before. They responded for me to meet with them. I went to the mosque, and took my Shahadah (witness of faith). I was treated so well, from the brothers at the mosque, and I knew that I had found what I have been searching for. It felt so good, to be at peace. Immediately, I hooked up with some knowledgeable brothers, who were upon the proper Understanding of Islam (The way of the Salaf), and I stuck with being around them, seeking knowledge and learning. Since then, I have continued to seek knowledge, and I plan to do so until, Allaah takes my soul, by the permission of Allaah.

Beneficial Notes concerning Jesus Christ (peace be upon him)

2010-05-16T02:09:00.004-04:00

One may ask if Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, will return in the last days and he is a Messenger how can our Prophet, peace be upon him, be the last of the Prophets?

So we respond by saying that Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, will not return with a new legislation rather he will rule by way of the divine legislation revealed to Muhammad, peace be upon him.

One may also state that it is agreed upon that the best of this Ummah (the Islamic nation) after our Prophet, peace be upon him, is Aboo Bakr (his companion and the 1st Caliph of Islam after the Prophet’s death). Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, will rule by the divine legislation of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and will be from his followers so how is it correct to say that the best of this Ummah after our Prophet is Aboo Bakr?

We respond by saying that Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, is not from this Ummah and it is not correct for us to say that he is from it when he preceded the Prophet, peace be upon him. He will adhere to the Islamic divine legislation when he returns because it is the legislation revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and it will remain so until the Day of Judgment.

Taken from al-Ma'awiyyah of ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him which are notes from the Shaykh’s explanation of al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah: 100 benefits from the text and translated by Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee-may Allah guide him.

Who is Allah?

2010-05-15T03:02:00.005-04:00

A brief examination into the Evangelical Zionist Christian claim that Allah is a Moon God of the Arabs and not the same deity worshipped by the great prophets of the Old Testament and the prophet Jesus (peace be upon them all).

Compiled and written by Aboo ‘Imraan ‘Abdus-Saboor bin Tomas Maldonado al-Mekseekee

Today’s evangelical Zionists Christians have tried in error to convince many that the Supreme Being “Allah” worshipped by billions of Muslims worldwide is not the same Supreme Being that the great prophets of the Old Testament such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus worshipped.

The following are some statements that can be referenced on the Internet and in many Christian books available in public libraries and churches throughout the Western world. From the strangest and most bizarre of these statements we find the likes of:

"…And I will tell you Allah is not Jehovah either. Jehovah's not going to turn you into a terrorist that'll try to bomb people and take the lives of thousands and thousands of people." Pastor Jerry Vines Pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida and former President of Southern Baptist Convention.

“The Muslim's claim that Allah is the God of the Bible and that Islam arose from the religion of the prophets and apostles is refuted by solid, overwhelming archeological evidence. Islam is nothing more than a revival of the ancient Moon-god cult. It has taken the symbols, the rites, the ceremonies, and even the name of its god from the ancient pagan religion of the Moon-god. As such, it is sheer idolatry and must be rejected by all those who follow the Torah and Gospel.” Yeshua Communications Network

“Allah has definite characteristics: he is not a father, has no son, is not a triune being but a single (and thus incomplete) entity who destroys rather than saves sinners, has compassion on only the righteous, does not deal in grace but only rewards good deeds, has no way to redeem the lost sinners, etc. Allah is not the God of the Bible.” The Berean Call Ministry of Bend Oregon

“Throughout the Qur'an we read that Allah loves those who do good and does not love those who do evil. Allah is not at all like the Christian God.” James Watkins Christian Minister

“The problem is, Allah is NOT Jehovah” Taken from the article: The Bible Speaks to Muslims

“Many believe the word “Allah” was derived from the mid- eastern word “el” which in Ugaritic, Caananite and Hebrew can mean a true or false God. This is not the case, “The source of this (Allah) goes back to pre-Muslim times. Allah is not a common name meaning “God” (or a “god”), and the Muslim must use another word or form if he wishes to indicate any other than his own peculiar deity.” Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (ed. Hastings), I: 326

“He went on CNN and he laughed at us, and he said, ‘They’ll never get me because Allah will protect me. Allah will protect me.’ Well, you know what? I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.” Lieutenant General William Boykin former United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence during a speech about hunting down Somali Warlord Osman Atto.

The information that you the noble reader will be presented is meant to provide the facts surrounding the use of the Divine Name “Allah”. I hope and pray that you will read it with sincerity, open-mindedness, as well as with an open heart to the truth.

{Say (O Muhammad): O people of the Book come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if we turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.} Soorah Aali Imraan: 64

The Linguistic meaning of “Elahh”

In The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words: Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (Hardcover) on page 326 regarding the following name of God found in the Old Testament there it is mentioned:

אֱלָהּ
“Elahh (Aramaic), means “god”. This Aramaic word is the equivalent of the Hebrew Eloahh. It is a general term for “God” in the Aramaic passages of the Old Testament, and it is a cognate form of the word Allah, the designation of deity used by the Arabs.”

“Cognate” here is just a fancy way of saying related in origin, as certain words in genetically related languages descended from the same ancestral root; for example, English name and Latin nōmen from Indo-European.

The Aramaic and Hebrew root of this word is א “Aleph” ל “Lamed” and ה “Heh” which corresponds exactly with its sister language Arabic root إله which consists of إ “Alif” ل “Laam” and ه “Haa”.

The word is widely used in the Book of Ezra and Daniel and other portions of the Old Testament that are written in Aramaic. On each occasion the reference is to the “God” of the Jewish people. When “Elahh” is used by the Prophet Ezra himself he specifies the “God” of the Jews. So we find in the text of Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 the:

אֱלָהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל
Elahh (God) of Israel

Also in the text of Ezra 5:12 and 6:3 the:

אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא
Elahh (God) of Heaven

When “Elahh” is used in the book of Daniel it is in reference to the living “God” whom he worshipped.

The Linguistic meaning of “Eloahh”

In The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words: Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries (Hardcover) on page 327 regarding the following name of God found in the Old Testament there it is mentioned:

אֱלוֹהַּ
“Eloahh” means “god”. This Hebrew name for “God” corresponds to the Aramaic “Elahh”. The origin of the term is unknown, and it is used rarely in Scripture as a designation of deity…Certain scholars regard the word as being a singular version of the common plural form אֱלֹהִים “Elohim” , a plural of majesty. Eloahh is commonly thought to be vocative in nature, meaning “O God”. But it is not clear why a special form for the vocative in an address to God should be needed, since the plural Elohim is frequently translated as a vocative when the worshipper is speaking directly to God , as in Ps 79:1. There is an obvious general linguistic relationship between Eloahh and Elohim, but determining its precise nature is difficult.”

The Hebrew grammarian Edward Horowitz mentions in his book “How the Hebrew Language Grew” on page 82 that most Islamic religious terms come from words also commonly found in the Hebrew language then states on page 99 that:

“Allah is equivalent to אֱלוֹהַּ (Eloahh)”!

The Linguistic meaning of “Allah”

The Christian European Orientalist Edward William Lane states in his Arabic – English Lexicon volume 1 page 83:

“إله is the same as the Hebrew אֱלוֹהַּ and the Chaldee אֱלָהּ ; and is of uncertain derivation: according to some. It is originally وِلاَهٌ , like as إشَاحٌ is originally وِشَاحٌ ; meaning that mankind yearns towards him who is thus called, [seeking protection or aid,] in their wants, and humble themselves to him in their afflictions, like as every infant yearns towards its mother.”

And on the same page says about the divine name “Allah”:

“الله written with the disjunctive Alif meaning God, the only true god, according to the most correct of the opinions respecting it, which are twenty in number or more than thirty, is a proper name, applied to the Being who exists necessarily by Himself, comprising all of the attributes of perfection; a proper name denoting the true god, comprising all the excellent divine names; a unity comprising all the essences of existing things; the ال being inseparable from it: not derived.”

The only difference in these names is the pronunciation of the divine name; however the root letters as previously mentioned are equivalent and convey the same meaning. It should also be noted that both Arabic and Hebrew have different pronunciations of their respective definite articles.

Words from a Yemeni Jew regarding the Divine Name “Allah”

A certain Yemeni Jew has made a small video where he addressed the Arabic meaning of the divine name “Allah” and its equivalency to the Hebrew divine name Eloah. He states:

“As a Yemenite Jew I can tell you that the name itself is not the “devil” it is not a pagan idol it is not the Moon God as evangelical Christians have been propagating for decades this is a very, very, sick cult by the way and their idiocy is quite redundant I mean I can’t even imagine a people would even teach themselves these things and flatter themselves with these things and at the same time claim to support Israel when in actuality in Israel we say “Allah” we say “Yallah” we say these terms these phrases are understandable to our understanding that they are not in any way shape or form to what evangelical Christians say is basically the devil, no! We understand what the name Allah means and what it signifies...”

He then goes on to refute the claim of those who say that Allah in Hebrew means ‘curse’ and those who say that Allah is a ‘moon god’. You can reference the entire video on you tube at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jno7fJMB13A&feature=related

Conclusion

Therefore based on the linguistics of the Semitic languages and the textual evidence (based on both the Old Testament and the Quran) presented here we can conclude the following:

• Elahh (Aramaic), Eloahh (Hebrew), and Allah (Arabic) are all related linguistically since they are all from the same Semitic family of languages.

• While the complete meaning of Elahh (Aramaic) and Eloahh (Hebrew) is not known to Hebrew grammarians (according to their cited sources not my claim) the ancient meaning of Allah (Arabic) has been preserved by the Arabs and the Muslim Arab language grammarians and is still the main name of God used today by the Muslim people as well as by Christians of the Muslim lands.

• Elahh (Aramaic), Eloahh (Hebrew), and Allah (Arabic) is in fact the same God of both Jews and Muslims while the Christians made Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, a God and worship him despite the corrupted biblical evidence that states he, himself, used to pray and call upon Elahh in his own native Aramaic tongue. {See the B’rit Chadasah (the translated Hebrew version of the New Testament) Matthew 26:39.}

• Elahh (Aramaic), Eloahh (Hebrew), and Allah (Arabic) were worshipped by all of the Semitic prophets from Noah to Abraham to Moses to David to Solomon to Ezra to Daniel to Jesus to Muhammad peace be upon them all. With the exception of Prophets Muhammad and Ishmael all of the Prophets of Banu-Israaeel (the Children of Israel) used the Hebrew divine names in prayer and urged their disciples to call upon God with them. Prophet Ishmael spoke both Hebrew (the language of his father Prophet Abraham ), Egyptian (the language of his mother Hagar), and Arabic (which he learned from the Arab tribe of Jurhum that he married into in Makkah, reference Saheeh Bukhaaree 1/475, 476 for this narration). Prophet Muhammad spoke pure Arabic so both prophets called upon the divine name used by the Arabs.

• Allah and Jehovah are the same but it is the Christians who choose out of stubbornness not to acknowledge this despite the linguistic and biblical evidences brought before them.

• If we were to acknowledge the claim of the Evangelical Zionist Christians that Allah is a “Moon God” based on mere misinterpretation of archeological evidence then the symbols, rites, and ceremonies of the religion of Judaism will also have to be considered steeped in an ancient pagan religion in itself. In addition to this the usage of God’s Hebrew names Elahh, Eloahh, El, Yehovah, Yah and Adonai found in the Old Testament would all be considered names derived from pagan gods based on the ancient pagan literature found from the people in those areas. In fact this is a claim that Atheists such as William Hardwood in his Mythology’s Last Gods have been using to try and prove the non-existence of God! We seek refuge in Allah from his ignorance.
And Allah knows best.

Proof that Abraham was in Arabia

2010-05-08T06:06:00.004-04:00

I read this and thought it might be interesting to quote here on the blog that Judaic and Christian sources chronicle Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, as once having traveled around Arabia. This is the actual quote:

“The Genesis Apocryphon is a form of parabiblical literature, which retells the story of parts of Genesis in Aramaic, embellishing it, and adding haggadic details. It should probably be called more properly Ketab Abahata, “Book of Patriarchs,” because it recounts in embellished form the stories of Noah and Abraham. It is related to the kind of literature one find in Jubilees. There is no indication in this text of any specifically sectarian doctrines or traits; hence it is probably not a sectarian composition. Like Jubilees, it probably stems from a wider circle of Jews, but was used by the members of the Qumran community. Only one copy of it has been found.

Among the embellishments of the Genesis story is an elaborate description of Sarai’s beauty and of the journey that Abram makes to explore the Promised Land. The former describes Sarai’s hair, color of her face, the slenderness of her arms and hands, the comeliness of her legs. The latter depicts Abram travelling from the delta in Egypt up to the coast to the Tarus Mountains, then across the desert to the Tigris, down along the river to the Red Sea (the ancient name for the Persian Gulf), around the Arabian peninsula, up to the Red Sea, and back to his starting point in the Delta of the Nile.”

Responses to 101 Questions on the Dead Sea Scrolls by Joseph A. Fitzmyer S.J. pages 34-35

And this is interesting indeed because we find in Saheeh-ul-Bukhaaree Volume 4, narration #583 (of the English translation for those who do not read Arabic) a similarity regarding Abraham’s travels in Arabia:

"Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas on the authority of the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) who said: ((The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah. Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she used to nurse him at her breast, near the Ka’bah under a tree on the spot of Zam-zam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ishmael’s mother followed him saying, “O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, “Has Allah ordered you to do this?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not neglect us” and returned while Abraham preceded onwards, and on reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Ka’bah, and raising both hands invoked Allah saying the following prayer: -

{‘O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka’bah in Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform prayer. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide then with fruits, so that they may give thanks.}Chapter Ibraaheem verse 137.

Ishmael’s mother went on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child, also became thirsty. She started looking at him tossing in agony; she left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of as-Safaa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at him, and found that the mountain of as-Safaa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from as-Safaa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached al-Marwah mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between as-Safaa and al-Marwah) seven times.”

The Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, “This is the source of the tradition of the Sa’y (the going) of people between them (i.e. as-Safaa and al-Marwah). When she reached al-Marwah (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively…"

This is only a small portion of the narrative but whoever has access to the Saheeh can refer to it as it contains very beneficial points and proofs of Prophet Abraham’s prophethood within Islam.

Looking for your Shahadah story!

2010-04-27T04:58:00.004-04:00

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

If you or anyone you know is a convert to Islaam I would love to hear about how you accepted Islaam and post it on my Why Islam blog. Please e-mail me at thomasmaldonadojr@gmail.com and I will send you the survey and post it after editing it.

May Allah bless you in this life and in the hereafter.

Aboo 'Imraan al-Mekseekee

Jewish Woman Arrested over Shawl

2009-11-22T10:28:00.005-05:00

Israeli police have arrested a Jewish woman for wearing a prayer shawl at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Police said wearing the shawl - known as a tallit - was a violation of a High Court ruling that a dress code must by abided by at the Jewish holy site.

Nofrat Frenkel had been taking part in a monthly ceremony organised by the Women of the Wall religious group.

The chairwoman of the group, Anat Hoffman, criticised the move as unprecedented in Israel's history.

Police were called to the area when Ms Frenkel asked to read out a prayer at the site.

Women of the Wall organises prayer groups at the Western Wall on the first day of month in the Hebrew calendar.

There are differing religious opinions in Israel as to whether women should wear the tallit, which is traditionally worn by some men during religious observance.

Some groups in Israel have voiced their opposition to the practice.

Last week Israel's former chief Sephardi rabbi, Ovadia Yosef, denounced women's prayer groups that wear the tallit at the Western Wall as acting to promote a feminist cause and not out of piety.

"There are stupid women who come to the Western Wall, put on a tallit and pray," he said.

The Western Wall, sometimes referred to as the Wailing Wall or simply the Kotel (wall), is Judaism's holiest prayer site.

Read full article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8365895.stm

Christianity also teaches "Surrender (a.k.a Submission a.k.a Islaam)" to God

2009-11-22T08:36:00.003-05:00

Total Surrender

"Peter began to say to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You' " (Mark 10:28)

Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is "for My sake and the gospel's" (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, "I'm going to give myself to God, because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all...

...Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ himself...

...True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion..

...Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it...

Taken from the book "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

Another attack leaves US Muslims fearing backlash

2009-11-21T07:08:00.003-05:00

As I read this article I couldn't help but think that more and more it is very important for Muslims in the West to save themselves and thier families and to make every positive effort in immigrating to the lands of the Muslims. I ask Allah to grant all of the Muslims who are trying to give them success.

===========================================================

As word spread that a gunman had opened fire at Fort Hood leaving a trail of carnage, a chilling realization swept across the U.S. Muslim community: He has an Islamic name.

From a professor who just testified in Congress, to a White House adviser appearing before a Jewish group and a former Marine driving home from work, Muslims across the country were shocked, angry and afraid that the attack would erode efforts to erase anti-Islamic stereotypes.
Many Islamic leaders said the Fort Hood tragedy that left 13 dead and 30 wounded including the alleged gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, could likely pose the sternest test for U.S. Muslims since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"A lot of us work very hard for this country, to make America a better place," said Muqtedar Khan, a progressive Muslim scholar who has just given Congressional testimony on U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan before Thursday's attack. "And this one nut like Maj. Hasan comes along and in one crazy episode of a few seconds he undermines these years and years of hard work we are doing to make American Muslims part of the mainstream in the community."

Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, is a Muslim who attended his former mosque daily and had an "Allah is Love" bumper sticker on his car. Soldiers reported Friday that the shooter shouted "Allahu Akbar!" — Arabic for "God is great!" — during the rampage.

Other troubling details also emerged, including reports that authorities suspect Hasan posted online messages about suicide bombers and violence, was struggling with a pending deployment to Afghanistan and was being harassed in the Army for being a Muslim.

While a motive remains unclear, the confirmation of Hasan's faith alone prompted major Muslim groups and mosques to issue statements condemning the killings as contrary to Islam and praising the service of the many Muslim Americans in the U.S. military.

Of immediate concern was security at mosques Friday, Islam's main day of communal prayer.
In Washington, Chicago and elsewhere, mosques asked police for extra patrols. In Garden Grove, Calif., officers stood watch outside a mosque as a precaution.

Muslim leaders warned people to be vigilant and avoid exposing themselves unnecessarily — including walking alone, said Hussam Ayloush, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Southern California.

"This is one of those moments where we have to sit and pray that most Americans will come out stronger, more united, and more tolerant," said Ayloush, adding that Muslim organizations have received dozens of death threats and hate e-mail.

At the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring, Md., which Hasan attended before moving to Fort Hood, Imam Mohamed Abdullahi urged worshippers Friday to tell their non-Muslim neighbors that Islam was not responsible for the deaths. He also advised them to keep their tempers in check.

"Whenever we hear the name turns out to be Arabic or Muslim we feel a double shock" about such incidents. "And then we worry about backlash," said Imam Mostafa Al-Qazwini of the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Read Full Article Here

A Ray of Light in the Mexican Lands of Shirk

2009-11-06T22:40:00.015-05:00

Whenever my fellow brothers in faith find out that I am a Mexican-American Muslim I am always asked about Islam in Mexico. Many are surprised to find that there are significant Muslim communities spread throughout the “Mexican Lands of Shirk (Idolatry)”.

On the border in El Paso, Texas there is a large Masjid (proper name for a Mosque) on the West side at Paragon Lane. It consists of mainly Muslim emigrants from the Arab and non-Arab Islamic world. You have Palestinians, Africans, African-Americans, Egyptians, Syrians, and Libyans, in addition to Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. You will also find significant amounts of Mexican brothers and sisters. One of the largest Mexican Muslim families is the Orozco family. They are well known and respected in the community. Allah has blessed many of them to accept Islam and many more seem to continue to embrace the religion.

You will also find others like Hasan al-Mekseekee, his aunt, and his mother who embraced Islam many years ago. Hasan’s aunt immigrated to the Emirates many years ago with her husband and has lived there since. Hasan has been blessed to make the pilgrimage and visit Morocco with his Moroccan wife, may Allah bless them. There are also brothers from Juarez, Mexico who come to worship since there is no Mosque there for them to pray at. May Allah grant them one soon.

As for the Mosque itself then it resembles many Mosques found in the Muslim world today. It has two minarets and one large dome. The men’s prayer hall is very large and more than accommodates those going to worship. The women also have their own comfortable area which is divided into two large rooms with windows that allow the women to see out but not for the men to see inside. There are well kept facilities such as restrooms, showers, kitchen, etc. There is also a nice library to study in. The Mosque also has a full-time Islamic school for the children.

The community has been in El Paso since the 80’s. They started off in a two story home in downtown El Paso. When I accepted Islam in the 90’s I used to visit my mother and I would always go there to pray. I hadn’t been in El Paso in almost 15 years so when I came back to work here the community had outgrown the house and built the Mosque.

The new Imam, brother Noor-ud-Deen, is originally from Ghana and is a graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah, K.S.A. from the college of Arabic language. Allah has blessed him with an abundant amount of knowledge concerning the sciences of the Arabic language and his sermons and lectures are very knowledge-based, may Allah bless him.

I have included my own personal pictures of the Mosque in this entry to give you a mental picture of what it looks like. Click on the pictures for a larger view. I ask Allah to bless the Muslim brothers and sisters of El Paso and to keep them established upon Islam; indeed He is able to do so.

(The Minarets of the El Paso Masjid.)

(Front view of the Masjid from Paragon Lane. The Franklin mountains tower over it.)

(Prayer times and events are posted outside on the men and women's side.)

(The men's prayer area inside of the Masjid.)

(There are two playgrounds for the children to run around in but be careful with the thorns and scorpions!)

(To the left of Juarez, Mexico you can see into New Mexico. That mountain with the cross on it is Mount Cristo del Rey which means the mountain of Christ the King in Spanish. You can read about my pilgrimage there by clicking here.)

(From the Masjid you can see into Juarez, Mexico.)

(There is plenty of parking at the Masjid.)

God vs. Science

2009-11-06T22:24:00.003-05:00

'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.'
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely. '

'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir...'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not..'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '

' Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit d own to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation.. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. 'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor.. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. 'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?' Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down.

PS: the student was Albert Einstein!

The Muslim who left Islam

2009-10-10T12:57:00.006-04:00

It was narrated by Aboo Ma’mar from ‘Abdul-Waarith from ‘Abdul-‘Azeez from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “There used to be a Christian man who became Muslim and used to recite the two longest chapters of the Quraan al-Baqarah and Aali ‘Imraan. He used to write for the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him). He returned to practicing Christianity and used to say, ‘Muhammad doesn’t know anything except for what I write for him.’ Then Allah caused him to pass away and he was buried. When the morning time came the earth spit him out. His companions said, ‘This is the work of Muhammad and his followers when he fled them. They dug our companion out.’ So they took him and dug a deeper hole. When the morning time came again the earth spit him out. His companions said, ‘This is the work of Muhammad and his followers when he fled them. They dug our companion out.’ So they took him and dug a deeper hole as much as they were able to. When the morning time came the earth spit him out. They then knew that this could not have been done by any of the people so they left his body there.”

It was related by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh in the book entitled al-Munaaqib in the chapter entitled ‘Alaamat-un-Nubuwwati fee al-Islaam no. 3348.

It was narrated by Muhammad bin Raafi’ from Aboo an-Nadhr from Sulaymaan and he was a son of al-Mugheerah from Thaabit from Anas bin Maalik who said, “There used to be amongst us a man from the Banoo an-Najjaar who used to recite al-Baqarah and Aali ‘Imraan. He used to write for the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him). He left Islam and met the People of the Book. They held him in high esteem and used to say, ‘He used to write for Muhammad’ so they were pleased with him. No sooner than that Allah destroyed him and they dug a hole and buried him. When morning time came the earth spit him out upon his face. His companions came back to his body where they dug a hole for him and buried him. When morning time came the earth spit him out upon his face so his companions came back to him again to dig another hole and buried him in it. When the morning time came the earth had spit him out upon his face so they left him there discarded out in the open.”

It was related by Ahmad no. 11769 and 13084 and Muslim in the book entitled ‘Aaqibat-ul-Munaafiq in the chapter entitled al-Imaan wal-Munaafiq wa ‘Adhaab-il-Qabr.

It was narrated by ‘Affaan from Hammaad who said that he was informed by Thaabit from Anas that there was a man who used to write for the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him). Whenever it was dictated to him to write the word Samee’an (the All-Hearing) he would say, ‘I wrote the words Samee’an Baseeran (the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing)’. The Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, ‘leave it’. And whenever it was dictated to him to write ‘Aleeman Hakeeman (the All-Knowing, the Wise) he would write ‘Aleeman Haleeman (the All-Knowing, the Patient One). Hammaad said, “He used to recite al-Baqarah and Aali ‘Imraan the both of them and he recited a large amount of the Quraan. Then he left and converted to Christianity and used to say, ‘I used to write for Muhammad whatever I wanted’. The Prophet said to leave him alone and shortly thereafter he died and was buried. The earth spit him out twice or three times.” Aboo Talhah said, “I saw him discarded out in the open.”

It was related by Ahmad no.13084.

It was narrated by Yazeed bin Haaroon who was informed by Humayd from Anas that a man used to write for the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him). He used to recite al-Baqarah and Aali ‘Imraan and was a man who used to recite a great portion of both. The Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) used to dictate the words Ghafooran Raheeman (The One who forgives, the Merciful to all of His creation) and he would write ‘Aleeman Hakeeman (the All-Knowing, the Wise). The Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) used to tell him, “Write such and such, write it as you wish.” He would dictate ‘Aleeman Hakeeman (the All-Knowing, the Wise) to him and he would say, ‘I wrote Sam’eean Baseeran (the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing).’ He would tell him, ‘Write, write as you wish.’ Then he left Islam and joined the polytheists. He would tell them, ‘I am more knowledgeable than Muhammad. I used to write what I wanted to write for him.’ Then he died and the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, “Even the earth did not accept him.”

Anas said that Aboo Talhah informed him that he went to the place where that man had died and he found him discarded out in the open. Aboo Talhah asked, “What happened to this man?” And he was informed, “We buried him several times but the earth will not even accept him.”

It was related by Ahmad no. 11769.

Translated by Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee-may Allah guide him

Children are born believers in God, academic claims

2009-10-09T21:14:00.003-04:00

Children are "born believers" in God and do not simply acquire religious beliefs through indoctrination, according to an academic.

TelegraphMartin Beckford 24 Nov 2008

Dr. Barrett: "If we threw a handful on an island and they raised themselves I think they would believe in God."Dr Justin Barrett, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Centre for Anthropology and Mind, claims that young people have a predisposition to believe in a supreme being because they assume that everything in the world was created with a purpose.

He says that young children have faith even when they have not been taught about it by family or at school, and argues that even those raised alone on a desert island would come to believe in God.

"The preponderance of scientific evidence for the past 10 years or so has shown that a lot more seems to be built into the natural development of children's minds than we once thought, including a predisposition to see the natural world as designed and purposeful and that some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "If we threw a handful on an island and they raised themselves I think they would believe in God." In a lecture to be given at the University of Cambridge's Faraday Institute on Tuesday, Dr Barrett will cite psychological experiments carried out on children that he says show they instinctively believe that almost everything has been designed with a specific purpose.

In one study, six and seven-year-olds who were asked why the first bird existed replied "to make nice music" and "because it makes the world look nice". Another experiment on 12-month-old babies suggested that they were surprised by a film in which a rolling ball apparently created a neat stack of blocks from a disordered heap. Dr Barrett said there is evidence that even by the age of four, children understand that although some objects are made by humans, the natural world is different.

He added that this means children are more likely to believe in creationism rather than evolution, despite what they may be told by parents or teachers. Dr Barrett claimed anthropologists have found that in some cultures children believe in God even when religious teachings are withheld from them. "Children's normally and naturally developing minds make them prone to believe in divine creation and intelligent design. In contrast, evolution is unnatural for human minds; relatively difficult to believe."

Click Here for Source

One in Four is Muslim, Study says

2009-10-09T20:48:00.002-04:00

A report from an American think-tank has estimated 1.57 billion Muslims populate the world - with 60% in Asia.

The report, by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, took three years to compile, with census data from 232 countries and territories.

It showed that 20% of Muslims lived in the Middle East and North Africa.

The data also showed that there were more Muslims in Germany than in Lebanon, and more in Russia than in Jordan and Libya together.

Surprise
Researchers analysed approximately 1,500 sources including census reports, demographic studies and general population surveys.

Senior researcher Brian Grim told CNN that the overall figure was a surprise and said: "Overall, the number is higher than I expected."

Click Here to Read More

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