General Issues / Questions

Peace, So....? Why should we care? Brother... you, me and all of the people in this forum never met "The Prophet" (I supposed you mean Muhammad Ibnu Abdullah who lives circa 600 AD right?) Besides you, me and all of the people in this forum is not the one responsible judging "The Prophet" or anybody else.. We should pay attention more on whether we make mistakes or not practicing what we preach.. Thank you! 612 O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? 613 It is most despicable with God that you would say what you do not do.

Peace, thanks

I also heard that Elvis is not dead, infact he was being kidnapped by the UFO! Sister... not all things you heard is true.. For this case; it is 100% hearsay a.k.a gossip.. D I could also add that in "eastern culture" (buddhism included), God is not "personalized"... In eastern culture, God is more recognized as "The Ultimate Force" or "The Ultimate Conciousness". You can "contact or connect to Him/It" without "uttering any words". Meditation is one of the way preffered by the eastern culture people to connect to "The Ultimate Force" or "God" or in Arabic culture "Allah". Salam Brother I am not claiming that this is 100% true, I am asking for more research in this area. Why don?t you try and access archives discover during excavation some time in 1996/87 ..what's the harm in proving this wrong by documentary evidence. Best wishes

I get the feeling that Pakistan is 50-150 years "behind". There is no unity. You have the people of the filthy rich class, you have the middle class, and you have the villagers, and you have the beggars. Some of all these may be well educated in the best institutions, and abroad, and some can't even read or write their own name. But they all seem to be stuck in their own system. There is really no class mobility... the cast system is alive and kicking. One problem is the great difference between these groups... they live in different worlds, and even if some members of one class may be considered modern in thought, you still have people in the poorer classes that live in a though system that existed 200 years ago in e.g. Europe. I guess these problems/friction arise when the world gets smaller and people and ideas move around more easily. If a village is happy the way they live, then they are happy, end of story, but these days, nothing is isolated from anything else, and his is how friction arises. Different standards, values, custom, habits, culture, level of activity. The positive thing is though that there is great potential in the people and country of Pakistan, and progress seems to come at a faster rate these days than it did 500 years ago or so. As always, the main problems are lack of unity, a rigid ego, and lack of positive feedback. I wish all the best for Pakistan.

Salam All, Tony, I have the same predicament as you. What have you had decided? My apologies for not being straightforward in the other thread. I just read this thread now. Thanks.

Peace "20-47", Peace is on him who follows the guidance 20-47 Those were some of the PROPHETS on whom Allah did bestow His Grace,- of the posterity of Adam, and of those who We carried with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Signs of Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears. 19-58 Have a look at it and could you show the verse and ayat where in Quran it is said that Nuh is the first prophet? Salam aleykum JK- Does "prophets...from the posterity of X" or "prophets...from the descendants of X" mean X necessarily included? Infact it would more probably imply the opposite that X is not included otherwise the statement would most likely run "those were some of the prophets...and so was X and...". GOD Bless!

Thoughts are always result of some action or experience. so the one who made you think such is sinfull. God Knows.

Peace, Peace, i'm only trying to learn and i must say that this forum is inconsistent and confusing. Most of the posts are contradictory with the articles. That's because not everybody believes the same thing. 3918 The ones who listen to what is being said, then follow the best of it. These are the ones whom God has guided, and these are the ones who possess intelligence.

http//www.councilofexmuslims.com/ I can't believe AB made his way there !

reducing pollution, helping the needy,saving the environment, not harming innocents, loving neighbours, and anything that help the system GOD created

Salaam, I checked out the video DArgento suggested above and in there we see a decent start, at the same time we know that these "protests" are merely recreational for most. Meaning most folks will get out there in the safety of numbers shout a thing or two about how they feel and then make sure they get back to their lives in time to get back to work and make that money and continue their lives just as before. One issue is a lack of any form of willing sacrifice. It seems people want change.. but not too much change. It becomes counter productive. Hypocritical... In the video they mention the "manufacturing of consent." This is a nice fashionable term today that is used very often. However, the consent isn't that "manufactured" as it is plain consent by actions (perhaps not thought). Meaning, even though people may oppose the war by thought, their actual daily actions help finance it, keep it going, and therefore they are willingly consenting to the event. This is done because even though people say (thought) they want change, their actions speak something different. It's as if no one wants the gears to come to a full stop. People are afraid of what will happen if the gears stop. It is more the manufacuring of fear. Once the fear is manufactured consent is freely given. So people get outside and yell a few words about the condition of things. What does this do? Nothing but help them "vent" and "cope" with their condition.. .their fears. These actions never become of any real use because the same people make sure they get back to work before they "loose their jobs and their material posessions." They have become so attached to these material things and the fear of loosing them (their limited and anxiety ridden comforts) that they are unlikely to want real change if it means the loss of them. So they trade worthless objects for a worthy world. Imagine if these protests tooks weeks, months, years... until the gears came to a full stop.. take a breath and lets figure it out again... there is no political solution.. we humans make up and create these problems ourselves and we are capable of creating our own solutions.. but how can we until we take a real good look inside and ask what we really want and what we're actually willing to do to make it happen! We can believe in the solution.. and actually take actions towards it.. we can learn to set aside our fears... and Believe... peace Very moving words brother and brother DArgento hit the nail on the head quoting 475. I would love to be part of a movement in and be proud to say when I face God i've done my bit and I hope its enough to go onto the next stage. Anyone got any ideas on how to implement this? PEACE

Not ANY unity. Unity under the banner of God. In fact the qur'aan tells us to stay away from even parents and nearest relatives if that would put us in the side of the truth revealed by God. Numbers not withstanding. I never said any Unity ??? Unity under the banner of God is a very broad concept. But the way I see it is we are only told to fight those that fight us.....if they don't fight us then we can have peace and live together in harmony. PEACE

I understood what you meant by jihadist, I just dont understand the purpose of an award. Awards are often given to raise awareness Salaam

28, spiritual seeker. Just for fun, I tried the one about christianity and guess what? I got 183, a Hillary Clinton Christian!!! tempt As for the Islam quiz, many questions just don't apply.

Peace all As Salaamu Alaika DArgento, Messengers/Prophets don't come to "create" religions. They come to promote the one "DEEN" that has existed since creation, Al Islam. Deen being a way of life for all creation to live in harmony with the plan of The Creator, there is no difference in what the Messengers/Prophets taught essentially; and that is what Al Quran teaches. Good statement. Its sad that people from all the religions don't see this. I think that the Hindus are the closest to come with this idea. Peace

If you are talking about the Hadith which talk about killing a person who speak the Quran but don,t understand then may Allah protect people around you because you will take the words of swords in Quran literally and may harm people around you on the base of those verses but just because word kill mention does not necessary means kill literally..... some time or most of the time you can kill peoples emotionally rather than killing them physically... or well you only need to kill the harm in the peoples and for that most of times you only need to communicate well with the others...... Peace Naxus I was talking about the Sunnis who hold that Quranics are out of the fold of Islam and therefore permissible to kill, voodoo about the topic headline and not what you wrote in your post here is my reply from Quran.......... 057.016 Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.

I am the 5,652,000,000 richest person in the world!

Sorry, I know this is offtopic Columbus cherished a vision of another world, and he discovered it. Not quiet http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15891.0 Carry on...

Peace to all, I really like this article I recently came across, it sums up many of our problems and gives a simple solution according to the message of the Prophets and the Quran, just thought you might like to read it and comment. Kurt Listening to the Prophets Throughout the history of mankind, prophets have brought spiritual guidance to free mankind from the slavery of anger, lust, hatred and violence. But sadly, their true message has been largely lost in the clutter of man-made rules and self-centered interpretations. In the Qur'an, we are told that the message of all the prophets should be heard and understood, not just one specific prophet. The revelation that we should "make no distinction between one and another of His messengers" is repeated several times in order to emphasize how important this really is Surely those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and (those who) desire to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers and say We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and desire to take a course between (this and) that. Such are disbelievers in truth; and for disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom. And those who believe in Allah and His messengers and do not make a distinction between any of them-- Allah will grant them their rewards; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. surah al-nisa (4.150-152) Say ye "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord We make no difference between one and another of them And we bow to Allah (in Islam)." surah al-baqarah (2.136) Say We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqoub and the tribes, and what was given to Musa and Isa and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit. surah al-'imran (3.84) The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say "We hear, and we obey (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." surah al-baqarah (2.285) Some have taught that only one certain prophet has been given the message, or that only one specific prophet has received the message correctly. But that is not the truth. That is simply the on-going battle between the head and the heart. The head (the selfish ego) will always try to divide and separate everything, while the heart longs for unity and oneness. Throughout the ages, mankind has all too often followed the guidance of the head, and not the guidance of the heart. The head, the self-centered ego, will attempt to take credit for everything of merit, when in fact everything of merit occurs only by the grace of Allah. The head will attempt to divide everything, and will produce a sense of "I", "me", "mine" which separates and isolates every person, bringing division and strife. That unfortunate situation has led us to such foolishness as war, violence, anger, hatred and division into various sects one against the other. The Qur'an warns us about such division And verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher therefore fear Me (and no other). But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects each party rejoices in that which is with itself. But leave them in their confused ignorance for a time. surah al-mu'nimun (23.52-54) As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least their affair is with Allah He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did. surah al-anam (6.159) Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah,- or those who split up their Religion, and become (mere) Sects,- each party rejoicing in that which is with itself! surah al-rum (30.31-32) Inevitably this will lead to the question which messages should we listen to?? Clearly there are lunatics in this world who should not be followed. How then can we distinguish which messages to listen to? The answer is simple we must follow the heart, not the head. The heart is the peaceful temple of the Almighty One. The head is full of incessant earthly chatter. The heart strives for unity. The head is attracted to division. The heart enjoys loving-kindness. The head finds expression through anger and greed. The heart is filled with understanding. The head is the master of selfish misinterpretation. The heart is full of answers and "knowing". The head is full of questions and arguments. The heart expresses love and generosity. The head thrives on selfishness and domination. The heart knows that it is an instrument of God. The head believes in its own accomplishments. The heart knows only the unity of "Thou" The head knows only "me", "mine", "I" Wherever one finds a message of the heart, it should be honored, and wherever one finds a message of the head, it should be viewed with suspicion. That is, if the message is unity, brotherhood, love, understanding, compassion and generosity, then there is something worth listening to. But if the message is of division, anger, hatred, greed and selfishness, then it should be avoided. The heart should be allowed to lead and the head should follow. For all too many people, their head is continually leading them into the suffering of anger, greed, lust and confusion. Indeed, the head is an excellent servant, but a terrible master. While the head will attempt to divide, separate and isolate through the sense if "I", "me" "mine". In contrast, the heart will unify, connect and embrace all of creation. Which will you choose? Only the heart can understand the message of the prophets. Follow your heart, give all credit and all praise to Allah, and discover the ever-present guidance of the One, the Only One, who can transform life from mere drudgery into glorious splendor. Salam Aleikum Kurt, Tanks for this beautiful message. If people would only realise that all the prophets repeated the same fundamental message there could be no division and no sects and no killing in the name of religion. As God (Ruh?) resides in our hearts they are the seats of goodness. The mind (nafs), likely resides in the brain and so is open to the influence of Shaitaan. tempt

Peace jonny_k, Peace "amuslim", JK- There is a FUNDAMENTAL problem with this claim of Mr. Zakir Naik. That is the RELATIVITY OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE FUNDAMENTAL OR NOT especially where religion is convcerned which lacks independent inquiry and hence is full of bias. For example sunni/shia sectarians consider it a fundamental in their faith that one needs to accept Muhammad as the last prophet and messenger whilst many of us may disagree. I would also consider myself a fundamentalist but in the technical in scientific sense i.e. i study the Quran and derive the basics there from and compare them through indepednent lines of inquiry and if theres convergence of conclusions then i tend to accept that interpretation. To me it has shown that what the sunnis call fundamentals of islam is infact a fundamentally flawed. Same goes for ritual salat, hajj, zakat etc. GOD Bless! I see it the same way as you do JK. What my fundamentals are aren't necessarily the same as yours, or anyone else. I guess we all interpret things one way and derive the fundamentals from that. Theyd call us fundamentally flawed too. Peace