General Issues / Questions

I don't think you can quiet the mind (easily anyway). Remember the brain is like a hard drive, it stores information and it's not easy to 'delete' that information. Meditation, salaat, or any of the like can help you have better thoughts, if utilized properly.

Muhammed Asad The most important feature of that new civilization a feature which set it entirely apart from all other movements in human history was the fact that it had been conceived in terms of, and arose from, a voluntary agreement of the people concerned. Here social progress was not, as in ALL other communities and civilizations known to history, a result of pressure and counter pressure of conflicting interests, nut part and parcel of an original 'constitution'. In other words, a genuine social contract lay at the roots of things not as a figure of speech formulated by later generations of power holders in defence of their privileges, but as the real, historic source of Islamic civilization. The Q? uran says "Behold, God has bought of the Faithful their persons and their possessions, offering them Paradise in return...Rejoice, then, in the bargain you have made, for this is the triumph supreme." "I knew that this 'triumph supreme'-the one instance of a real social contract recorded by history-was realized only during a very short period; or, rather, only during a very short period was a large-scale attempt made to realize it. I believe this is one of the best definitions of what the first Islamic State was about, it was a large-scale attempt. This term is very thought-provoking, as it immediately shows us that this attempt can be repeated whenever mankind decides too. The idea that we cannot re-create the bliss of the first Islamic society, is false idea created by the Elite of the Islamic world that wants Muslims to believe they can never live in peace again. Less than a century after the Prophet's death, the political form of pristine Islam began to be corrupted and, in the following centuries, the original programme {what a beautiful definition! programme} was gradually pushed into the background. Clannish wrangling for power took the place of a free agreement of free men and women; hereditary kingship; as inimical to the political concept of Islam as polytheism is to Islam's theological concept, soon came into being- and with it, dynastic struggles and intrigues, tribal preferences and oppressions, and the usual degradation of religion to the status of a handmaiden of political power In short, the entire host of 'vested interests' so well known to history. For a time, the great thinkers of Islam tried to keep its true ideology aloft and pure; but those who came after them were of lesser stature and lapsed after two three centuries into a morass of intellectual convention, ceased to think for themselves and became content to repeat the dead phrases of earlier generations-forgetting that every human opinion is time-bound and fallible and therefore in need of eternal renewal. The original impetus of Islam, so tremendous in its beginnings, sufficed for a while to carry the Muslim commonwealth to great cultural heights-to that splendid vision of scientific, literary and artistic achievement which historians describe as the Golden Age of Islam; but within a few more centuries this impetus also died down for want of spiritual nourishment, and Muslim civilization became more and more stagnant and devoid of creating power.

This is exactly why I posted these particular questions. I know Christians that are more Muslim than the so-called Muslims that I am around most of the time. As Forest Gump put it "A stupid is what a stupid does." Therefore a Christian or a Muslim is what a Christian or a Muslim does according to their holy books repectively. So your actions define what you are not what you call yourself.

http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WuJxuSYw6k&NR=1

It isn't frowned upon or in any way taken negatively, except when it causes idleness. Part of the Quranic order is to be kind to others, and part of that package is humour. We only find love when it has a condition, in the Quran. As for laughter, see 5343. God spells out "his" role in this, as the provider. Look at the rain, it can either provide crops to grow, or it can ruin a farmer's day. Likewise, God is similar. It's mentioned in 1171 in the positive. So, to say "God" is "serious" would be like asking whether the rain is "serious", really. The question doesn't work. Seriousness is subjective.

Okay, then. Someone finally admits to agreeing with me. I think most other members already agree with me too. This question is kind of like when in math you know the answer but you don't know how you got it. Or like when people can talk perfectly in a language but cannot explain the grammar rules. You understand it intuitively but you can't make it precise. I think most people on this forum (and this is based on all the debating I've seen) probably agree with me. If they believed in the Divine Command theory, we wouldn't have this forum. We'd all accept that whatever god wills is right and so there's no point in asking "why" because there is no answer. peace Agreed. I think the question is just a little vague (perhaps in the context of FM). As you said, I (and I would assume a lot of us here) don't believe in a god that arbitrarily decides what is good for no reason. Peace

Thank you for your opinions. As i have been very busy, i have not been able to respond untill now. Take care Peace

Peace all I recommend reading brother Fahad's article on the quran and justice http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15090.0

Where are all the Quranists who believe in the Quran-only repudiating you by quoting the beatiful verses of the Holy Quran which are fully detailed and address this issue which you are raising? It seems the Quranist have an artificial hold on the Quran. One would think they are in complete harmony and have a complete understanding of its inner teachings, but I have noticed from this forum this is not the case, rather they not truly appreciating the dynamic nature of the book they profess to believe in. In your "rant" you have implied that religion is meant to keep a certain class in power and exploits the blind sentiments of the superstitious masses. This is the case with many religions, especially Christianity, but you should never brush all religions with the same brush. Islam has no priesthood and no such class, no priests, popes, or any inherited religious status which makes a profit through religion. On the other hand, the core teachings of Islam are social justice. It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards east or west; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah fearing. (al-Baqarah 2117) How beautiful and moving is this verse? On so many levels it has proved that this Religion is the answer to man's ultimate question. The teachings of spending for the needy, orphans, the freeing of slaves, and even giving to those who merely ask, if "Religion" is meant to exploit and control, than Islam is not a "religion". But in the world without religion, a world without any universal moral standard, the natural/scientific/empirical philosophy of life is survival of the fittest, because there is no motivation to be a good person, but people will only be "good" if they have something to gain from them. This is called intelligence, but there is a difference between goodness for the sake of goodness and truth and goodness as an intelligent strategy. What you have mentioned are truely nice and motivating words. We dont need priesthood to understand the values of life. But I Also believe..we even dont need any form of organized religion to understand Love, compassion, moral values n so on. I believe these qualities are already implanted in a soul. One just needs to observe, think and learn by him/herself. In my opinion..Religion didnt give society much other than hate, seperation and war. What unites ppl is the free will. The soul needs free breathing space to acknowledge itself and connect. The soul needs to create logic by itself thru its free will and a free environment to practice. You cant set rules/walls around it and expect it to understand/acknowledge the vastness of Life. Personaly I dont like to use the word "Believe in Allah" and all the praises revolving around this characterized word... I would say..."Believe in It" and this "IT" is the vastness or free will or freeness of a soul to learn and acknowledge thru experience...not "Theory and hypothesis". I hope I am not confusing you........ peace

Peace I will try to act upon your advice.

Yusha I went to a school where almost all of the kids where white atheists and there were some Christians, I was never was made to feel inferior. Anyways the racist BNP are doing well in Bradford, it has that many Asians it is often called 'bradanistan' Leo I have no desire to learn Arabic, i was watching a programme on the Islam channel and they said it takes 8 years to learn the language, I do know the alphabets and the meaning of some Arabic words but I don't intend the learn the whole language, btw urdu writing may look similar to Arabic but the way it is spoken is totally different, urdu is soooo damn irritating.

Peace Forgot to mention, whatever Satan is it is just a whisper in your ear, you choose to follow it. Satans blamed for everything when the choice is in our hands. Peace

I found someone else using my account. Can you please cancel it immediately. Thank you. Change your password

Tarikh al Kabir is not part of the Sahih al Bukhari, it is basically an appendix of various sayings with a rating on them by Imam Bukhari. Sorry, Al-Dhahabi wrong reference, however it is in Al-Bukhari - I'll get the other one, they ain't hard to find, I've read more of the 'ahlul Bayt' variety than the 'sunnah' variety. What makes you think this is the case? The numerous hadith (that differ) on this issue refer to the same event at the same time and place. Please bear with me.

The truth of the matter is that we should live as though every day is going to be our last, that means being a good Muslim and following the teachings of the Quran. If you do this, you will not panic when the REAL Last Day comes, but you will be highly anticipating your eternal reward. Agreed.

Leave him be... when you meet with him say "PEACE"... Why? Because the Quran said so.. And the servants of the loving God are those who walk upon the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant (Al-Jahilunna) address them, they say Peace With due respect, I do not agree that this verse is applicable in this situation. He is not addressing Yasin. If he was, it would be a private/personal matter and Yasin may just ignore the insult and say "Peace". But this is slander. With slander you are not commanded to say "peace", on the contrary, this is a venue of lawful struggle (and debate them with the qur'aan).

Well I don't agree with this Tolu-e-Islam.. Tolu-e-Islam's literature is essentially directed towards individuals who are in search of truth so that they can overcome the forces of secularism Because I'm a proponent of "Secularism" (Read Anti-Sectarianism). And everybody can quote from wherever they wish.. Salam

Salaam Samia, If there were in them (the heavens and the earth) other gods beside GOD, there would have been chaos. Glory be to GOD; the Lord with absolute authority. He is high above their claims. Never Question God's Wisdom He is never to be asked about anything He does, while all others are questioned. Regards Ijaz Salaam ijaz I was not questioning God, and I did not go into counting to find who this or that was when He did not tell me. I was questioning YOU why you picked only two of the many anonymous persons.

gosh that is sickning, I had no idea things were that bad. how do Israeli Muslims manage to on on hajj or umrah? ???

Some more resources http//www.yemenlinks.com/Arabic_Resources.htm