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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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142 |
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Basics and Unchangeable
Written by: Sk. Dr. Younis Salih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
15 Shawal 1431h
24 September 2010
Islam and all other heavenly faiths and religions declare faith into Allah. Despite that some understand monotheisms in a different view to the Islamic view. All other heavenly faiths believe in angels, messengers, the scriptures and the day after. And all these are foundation of faith in Islam. And it is also in Christianity. They all meet at the basics and general levels of morals and behaviour and they all preach for it. All Godly faiths call to stay off alcohol, and off adultery, and gambling and stealing and rubbery. A Christian individual may drink Alcohol but that is not befitting with his religion. The Christian individual ought to have faith in his old scriptures when it states: {Those who consume alcohol, and those who commit adultery will not enter God’s kingdom}. Also a Muslim may drink alcohol yet it is forbidden in the Islamic faith. Yes, there are basics and unchangeable standards in all Godly faiths.
There is a verse in the Koran which is like a jewel within the message of our beloved messenger ppbu. Before we recite the verse listen to what happened in the story of the 60 man strong party representing the Najran clan who came to the messenger ppbu. The party included the 24 most respected men in the clan. Three of them held the highest status of all of them, and one of them was their chief. His name was: Abdul-Masiah. The second was their consultant and advisor. They called him the master, and his name was Al-Ayham. The third was their priest and man of religion and his name was Abul-Haritha ebn Alqamah (ÇáÍÇÑËÉ Èä ÚáÞãÉ) from the bany-bakr ben Wael clan. The Roman kings had honoured him because of his reputation in expertise in their faith. While they were on their way, the priest’s (Abul-Haritha) mule tripped, then his brother (named: Karaz) beside him said: “damn him” meaning the messenger of Allah ppbu. Abul-Haritha said to him: “don’t damn him, for I swear by Allah he is the prophet we were waiting for”. His brother Karaz said: “and if you believe this, then what is stopping you from following him?”. He said: “Those kings have honoured us and given us a lot of money and riches. And if we change our faith and believe in Muhammed then they would take everything away from us.”
When they met the messenger ppbu they made many different and contradicting statements about their faith. Once they said: “Jesus is God”, and sometimes they say: “he is the son of God”, and sometimes they say: “Jesus is one of the holy Trinity which makes up God”. Their argument for him being God is that he used to bring the dead to life, and used to make the dumb speak, and used to treat leprosy, and treat many other ailments. He used to make out of clay the shape of a bird which become a live and flies with the well of Allah.
Their argument for him being son of God was that he had no known father. And their argument for him being one of the trinity was because Allah says in their scripture: “We did.. and We made” in the plural sense. They said if God was one then he would have used the singular form like: “I did or I made” etc. The messenger ppbu invited them to become Muslims, and they said: “We are Muslim”. The messenger ppbu said: “you lied. How could you have proper Islamic faith and you still affirm a son to Allah, and you still worship the cross, and you still eat the pig”. They said: then who do you think his father wa? The messenger ppbu did not answer and Allah sent down over eight verses answering that.
The debate continued for a long time. Finally some of them said addressing their party: “hey you Christians, you know Muhammad is a messenger and came with the clear story of Jesus”. They asked the messenger ppbu to leave them on their faith and they leave him on his faith. But they asked him to send one of his men to act as an arbitrator in some financial problems they needed sorting. Omar ebn Al-Khattab said: “On that day, I loved to have been selected to be that man, more than on any other day”. But the messenger ppbu selected Obaidah ebn Al-Jarrah and advised him to be a just and truthful judge.
There is a verse in the Quran which is like the jewel in the messages and letters that the messenger ppbu sent to the kings and rulers of the world. Like Kisrah the king of Persia and Hercules the king of Rome, and the Najashi the Christian ruler, and Al-Muquoaqas (ÇáãÞæÞÓ) the head of the Christian Qubties of Egypt, and many other leaders and rules. All those letters included that verse off the Quran. Here is the wording of the letter which was sent by the messenger ppbu to Hercules:
{In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful.
From Muhammad the messenger of Allah; to Hercules the Roman majesty.
Peace to this that follows the guidance.
After this introduction;
I call you with the call of Islam. Submit to Allah and you will be saved.
Submit to Allah, and Allah will reward you twice. If you support Allah then he will reward you twice. And if you deny then you will carry the guilt of all the common of your people.
Oh, people of the book come to a just word between us and you, that we shall worship Allah and associate nothing with him, and we shall not take each others to be Gods other than Allah. And if they refuse then say: be witnesses that we submit to Allah (or we are Muslims)}.
That is because the Jews said to the messenger Muhammed ppbu: you only wish us to take you as God just as the Christians did with Isa. While the Christians said: “Oh, Muhammad, we will say about you what the Jews said about Ouzair”. But after the debate Allah brought down this verse.
The verse is like advising the messenger ppbu to give up the method of debating and arguing with them and to take the approach based on justice and not being biased to any party, an approach which would be accepted by every sane mind. {Oh people of the book some on to just word between us and you}
Oday ebn Hatim (ÚÏí ÅÈä ÍÇÊã) said I came once to the messenger ppbu with a gold cross round my neck. The messenger ppbu said to me: {get red of that idol}. And I heard him reciting: {they took their rabbis and priests as gods other than Allah and the Massiah the son of Mariam and they were only commanded to worship one God, no Gods other than He, praise Him beyond what they associate}. I said: oh, Messenger of Allah, they did not worship them. He said: {Didn’t they use to decide things allowable, and decide others forbidden? And didn’t you used to follow what they say?}Oday said: “Yes”. The messenger ppbu said: {that is it. And for that the people of the book were addressed because they used to obey their priests as if they were gods}. The he said: {and if they reject then say be witnessed that we submit or we are Muslims}
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
