Pillars of Islam

kgwithnob

Dear all, with my limited understanding of AlQuran. Following are so far understood to be the main pillars of Islam. Please share your comments.

Belief in a Rabb (a creator, sustainer, maintainer, foster and accomplisher) , who is not to be regarded, as a deity for worship and adoration.
Acquisition of Knowledge, throughout ones life.
Striving for establishment of Social justice.

Please compare and contrast these with the pillars of traditional Islam. Please think and ponder, which pillars are likely to change our condition and status?

Badar

The highlight above is from me.

Salaam Dear bkanwar2,

Please see 2177 . You may change your mind a little.

BTW, GOD says in The Qur'aan that He did not create the JINS & the HUMANS, EXCEPT to worship Him, 5156.

Peace,
Khalil

bkanwar2

The highlight above is from me.

Salaam Dear bkanwar2,

Please see 2177 . You may change your mind a little.

BTW, GOD says in The Qur'aan that He did not create JINS & HUMANS, EXCEPT to worship Him.

Peace,
Khalil

Dear Khalil, thanks for pointing that out. Basics of language. The sentences are made with words not otherwise. The meaning of so to called word "Allah" is what I have posted above. Therefore, it would not change in any sentence. Just a very basic rule in language.

Peace,

Badar

kgwithnob

Dear bkanwar2,

I believe there is some kind of misunderstanding here. I did not mean to refute any lingustical issue here. I am saying that GOD/ALLAH(SWT) created us for JUST woshipping him, 5156.

Peace,
Khalil

bkanwar2

Dear bkanwar2,

I believe there is some kind of misunderstanding here. I did not mean to refute any lingustical issue here. I am saying that GOD/ALLAH(SWT) created us for JUST woshipping him, 5156.

Peace,
Khalil

Dear what I am saying is, that word Allah means. "One who is not a deity for worship and adoration". Then how could he create things/beings for the same purpose?

Peace,

Badar

hope4

Selam

Here is something interesting from AIDID SAFAR - Mental Bondage

God is not to be 'Worshiped?
First and foremost the word 'worship' is not found anywhere in the Reading. Again, the religionists have twisted the meaning of a simple word in the book.
The essence of the Book is that all humans need to lead a righteous way of life according to the prescribed covenants by upholding their commitments and keeping them pure. No one can fulfil these commitments through acts of worship or ritual prayer. A person should observe his commitments through the individual act of consenting towards the providence of His master.

Wama qolaq-tul jin-ni wal-ain-sa il-laa li-ya?budun.
(5156)

And I did not create the jinn and the humans except for serving Me. (5156)

In one sentence, the Reading has explained our purpose here on earth. We are created to serve, not to worship. We have been created in the grand design to serve by deeds (and not merely by thoughts or words). The misrepresentation of the word serve (ta?budu) to mean worship has had a dire effect on the Islamic landscape.
The words serve and worship have different meanings in the context of this discussion. The former signifies serving God by doing good deeds in keeping with what we know to be His laws. The latter is a concentrated feeling of respect or admiration and love for the dead idols or icons and is demonstrated through rituals, pilgrimages, and the singing of hymns, etc. The word ?serve? ta?budu or ya?budun is derived from the word ?abd which means servant (and not worship). All humans are servants of God.
Therefore they have to serve and consented themselves (sujud) to Him alone. There are several derivatives from the word ?abd (servant). For example, the following verse is in reference to Jesus the son of Mary and the assigned energies (mala-ika) closest to God.

Laiyas-tabkifu masih?u ai-yakuna a?bdan lil-lah walal-
malaikatu muqor-robun. Waman yas-tankifu
?an-?ibada-tihi was-yastakbir fa-sayah shuru-hum
ilai-hi jami?an. (4172)

Never will the Messiah disdain being a servant (a?bdan) of God nor will the assigned energies. Those who disdain serving (ibada-tihi) Him and are arrogant, surely He will gather them to Him, all of them. (4172)

The Messiah was pure but he was not disdainful of being a servant to God. It is the duty of a servant to serve his master. The duty of a believer is to serve God by upholding the commitments and not to ?worship? Him in the sense of bowing and scraping. It would seem strange for any household to have a platoon of servants worshipping their employer. Where would be the logic in it?
As servants we are expected to look towards Him and praise Him like the rest of His creations in the heavens and the earth.

O mankind, you are the ones in need towards God, and God, He is the affluent the praised. (3515)

He does not need our petty sacrifices of food or selfimposed pilgrimages. He does not need our presence in Mecca. In fact He does not need our promises. If we have pledged a promise, it is our duty to fulfil that promise for our own good. He wants us to put His words into action. A servant has to observe his commitments or he become useless.
Of course, one can argue that God does not need our service either. This is true. It is we who benefit from being true in our service to Him. By these means, we justify the responsibility of free choice granted us and grow to our full potential. We become fully what we were meant to be. We become true to our truest nature. This is God?s will, and it is for our good.
Similarly, there are energies that are specially assigned making them close to God and they also serve their master. The word ?abdan in this verse means servant. The same verse also uses another derivative i.e. ibada-tihi to mean doing service for Him. The Messiah and the assigned energies did not worship God. They were too busy doing His work and serving Him.
We can also find a similar derivative from the root word ?abd in the Reading which means serving and not worship

Wa-nah-nu lahu a?bidun (213
And Him are we serving (213

Was-alman arsalna min qoblika min-rosulina aj?alna min-dunir-rohman ali-hatan ya?budun.
(43 45)

And ask those whom We have sent from before you among the messengers if We have set other than the Merciful as gods for them to be served. (43 45)

Simply put, all service is through deeds. The world is full of good intentions but intentions alone are not enough.
The seven verses in the introductory surah of the Reading are recited by the followers of the Arab religion during each of their five ?mandatory? daily prayers. The religionists deceived them by ascribing the word na?budu (serve) in 15 to mean worship. This word is derived from the root ?abd which means servant. Instead of declaring to God that they will serve Him alone without associating Him with anything, they say they ?worship? Him. God has never commanded anyone to worship Him.
The essence of the first part Al Fatihah is that God?s attributes encompass His dominion over the deen of everything in existence in the heavens and the earth. He is the absolute ruler of the orderly system in this world and in the Hereafter. The first four verses say, ?With the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise be to God the Lord of the Universe, the Most Compassionate and the Merciful. The Ruler of the day of the order?. And then, as servants to our Lord we pledge that we will uphold our covenant to serve him from what we are about to read from His guidance ? a guidance which says at the outset of the very next chapter, ?This Book is infallible, a guidance for the observant who believe in the unseen, and they uphold their commitments..?.?
15 should properly be read as
Eiya-ka-na?budu wa-eiya kanas-ta?ain. (15)
You alone we serve and You alone we ask for help. (15)
This is followed by
Guide us in the straight path, a path of those whom you blessed, and not of those who deserve wrath, or those who strayed. (16-7)

Here, the request is to seek His help in guiding us on the straight path that He had blessed. Logically, the only way God guides His servants is through His revealed Scriptures; certainly not through the performing of ritual prayer.
Instead of translating their services into practical acts according to what He has ordained in His Book, the religionists offer only lip-service by repeating ?You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help? seventeen times per day (the five daily rituals consist of 2, 4, 4, 3, 4 units in each ritual prayer at dawn, midday, afternoon, evening and night).
These verses clearly say we declare that we will serve Him alone, put our trust in Him to seek His mercy and blessings to guide us to the right path in His deen. God is the only one who can guide His servants to the straight path.

No one else can do this, not even the prophets

You cannot guide those you love. God is the one who guides whomever He wills because He is the only one who is fully aware of those who deserve the guidance. (2856)

There is no such thing as ?holy people? who can guide another to the straight path. These so-called holy people will ultimately themselves become idols to their followers.

God is the Lord of those who believe. He leads them out of the darkness into light. While those who disbelieve, their lords are the idols. They lead them out of the light into darkness. They have deserved the Fire as their eternal retribution. (2257)

The Reading is telling us that the ?holy men? will take people out of the light into darkness and lead their followers into hell-fire. None of us can escape from these ?holy men? as long as he belongs to a religion.
Upon a critical reading of the Reading it becomes clear that we cannot ?butter up? our Master ? the one who gave us this life ? by worshipping Him through rituals. There is no barter system involving the performance of rituals. We receive the guidance from God through His mercy ? mercy to which we are not entitled. In order to qualify we are simply required to serve God by fulfilling our covenant with Him. That is the contract with Him, and is binding upon us until we breathe our last. There is not a single verse in the Reading commanding humans to worship the Creator.

Peace

kgwithnob

Dear what I am saying is, that word Allah means. "One who is not a deity for worship and adoration". Then how could he create things/beings for the same purpose?

Peace,

Badar

The highlight above is from me.

Peace bkanwar2,

I wonder from where you've come up whith that "DEFINITION" for ALLAH(SWT)? Please document your CREDIBLE sources.

On the other hand, the first ARTICLE OF ISLAMIC FAITH is nothing but WORSHIPPING no other DIETY/god but ALLAH/GOD, laa ilaaha illaa ALLAH. Unles you have a NEW self made DEFINITION for ilaah/god too.

Peace,
Khalil

bkanwar2

Dear Khalil, this not a self made definition. It is based upon study of language of Alkitab. Here is the explanation, open for all to prove otherwise.

Peace,

Badar

Linguistic riddle solved, for those who want to learn
? on January 19, 2010, 054609 PM ?

Dear all, just want to share this with you all. I know lot of you are not familiar with ABC's of Arabic. However, whether we like it or not reality is; our most revered book remains concealed in this language. I have kept my discourse very simple and easy even for novice to follow.

Some friends and others have been asking me to provide them with a certificate of my linguistic abilities. However, I am sure even if I were to do that. Next they would tell, to have one of their liking. Hence, I have decided to provide this as my humble certificate. Have those who are contended with their authorities with certificates, prove it wrong step by step with help of their authorities.

Badar

We are lead through, with a careful linguistic analysis, to a conclusion that the word from Al-Qu'ran is not the proper noun (name) of our Rabb. It actually stands for allathi = who, La = not and finally illah . This would mean ?One who is not illah?.

If one were to incorporate the real meanings of the word ?illah? into the translation; this word which actually is a phrase would mean ?One who is not a deity for adoration or worship (God)?.

This sounds so radically different. Who am I to say this? What are my credentials?

Why should we trust this non-sense?

These are all defensive of held belief, so valid and legitimate questions.

Let us instead of worrying about the credentials of the informer of this information; Just explore the language of the Qur'an that is presented from the Qur'an itself.

First of all let us analyse what traditionalists interpret this word to be?

And why they are wrong?

The word is thought to be a combination of a definite article Al = in English ?The? and illah , meaning ?God? but in reality ?a deity for adoration and worship?.

Although, in actuality this "Al" is a contraction of the word and legitimately could be written as "Al" . Can we trust this assertion despite clear references from the Lexicon of Lane and Grammar of William Wright.

Let us turn to Qur'an itself for more evidence. In Arabic script as well in the Qur'an, where a preposition ?Lee? is added in to a word containing a definite article ?Al? . Alif is dropped and so Lam of the definite article ?Al? joins with ?Lam? of preposition. Let us illustrate this point with some word examples from Qur'an itself.

21 Alif of ?Al? gone, lam is present and preposition ?Lee? added.
47 and 432, is the word same concept.

However, for the word when the same preposition is added. We find that the ?Lam? of the supposed definite article ?Al? also disappears. However, following the examples above it should have been written as (in reality one can not type this so called word using an Arabic type writer).

Example, 12 and 115 more places 222, 298 and on and on, in total 116 occurrences.

Whereas, Allathi being a different word its whole contraction disappears. This also proves that this word by no means is a proper name as there is no definite article "Al". As if there would have been an "Al", it should look like this and not

Let us continue to analyses this word further. In the middle there is "Alif" like mark (highlighted in red) with a Shadda mark and another Alif above. (In newer, print version the "alif" above Shadda is taken a fatha shape instead of 'alif" like in this example as well. The gradual changes happening without anybody paying attention to these).

Shadda has several uses in script. We will only discuss the relevant ones here. One use is to indicate the doubling of a consonant. It is also used to indicate such a doubling only to facilitate pronunciation in the ?Sun letters of the Arabic alphabets?. This would be a apparently plausible defensive case for the traditionalist.

Let us analysis why it is wrong. If it were to be correctly understood, then there would be no reason to keep this shadda in place once the ?Al?, if it were really ?Al? of definite article. As in the phrase is gone , as in the example above of . However, we find in the Qur'an that this is not the case. Hence, this shadda is not due to ?Al? of a definate article coming before the word to make it a proper noun, but contraction of Allathi. Although, even if it were to be the case, as illah has already ?Alif? at the start which is not considered a ?Sun letter?. Hence no shadda would be have been added as cited above.

This clearly shows that the persistence of this shadda is due, not to the shadda of ?Al?; but in truth, indicates a real doubling of the consonants.

This means inescapably, that one were to follow the order of pronunciation of, this word. It actually is a sequence of words, a phrase, not just a word . Allathi (written as a contration in script as "Al&quot, La and illah. This would further imply that the middle shadda is suggesting ?two lams? and two alifs?.

Hence, if translated word for word, this word or more accurately phrase would mean ?One who is not a deity for adoration and worship?.

http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9599853.0

kgwithnob

Dear bkanwar2,

I'd like to ask you whether The Qur'aan was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad as a WRITTEN or as an ORAL/VERBAL revelation?

In other words, did Muhammad recieved The Qur'aan from GOD written down on something, or he just heard it as it was revealed to him?

Peace,
Khalil

bkanwar2

Dear bkanwar2,

I'd like to ask you whether The Qur'aan was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad as a WRITTEN or as an ORAL revelation?

In other words, did Muhammad recieved The Qur'aan from GOD written down on something, or he just heard it as it was revealed to him?

Peace,
Khalil

Dear Khalil, I claim no knowledge of unknown. I was not present at the time of prophet. You are likely aware of most historical accounts with all contradictions, so am I. The revelation to me, is to reveal a thing or knowledge that is concealed from most. Just like AlKitab is now. Here is, how I understand word , something/ some knowledge that descends through generations/ancestral source. Please see this

Surah 2 4

And such are the ones, rendering themselves secure, safe and free from fear; with all preceding knowledge that is sensible and based on fact, that comes from an ancestral source, as a benefit, favor and blessing to you. And what knowledge was preceding that is sensible and based on fact, being derived from an ancestral source, for those, who existed before you, in time, place and rank; as well as for, the ones before them, that recognized truth and became certain and sure of it, both intuitively and inferentially.

Peace,

Badar

kgwithnob

Dear bkanwar2,

The Qur?aan was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) not in writing but as verbal revelation.

The reason I put that question to you was because you have deeply occupied yourself with playing with WRITTEN words and WRITTEN ALPHABETS. You are quite OBLIVIOUS of the fact that The Qur?aan was not organized and written down into a tangible book until the passage of more than two decades after the Prophet's death. Before that, the verses of The Qur?aan for the most part had been memorized within the young Muslim community and was the main source for the process of putting them all together in a single book. Even the first written copies of The Qur?aan did not look anything close to what we have today. There were no written vowels, punctuations, and even no dots associating with the letters of the alphabets! Then through long periods of time all of those gradually got evolved and now you and I see The Qur?aan like we see it today.

Now, you and a few others like you, are sitting in the comfort of your homes and spend so much of your time and energy playing with words coming up with BASELESS, unheard of, and strange inventions, ?analyzing? GOD(SWT). Just see 223 and 228.

Saying all that, and according to VERBAL/ORAL revelation and VERBA/ORAL RECITATION of The Qur?aan, the word ALLAH is the ONE OF A KIND AND UNIQUE UNIVERSAL PROPER NAME and no one else has the write in the WHOLE UNIVERSE to pick this name for themselves.

ALLAH is the only UNIVERSAL DIETY WORTHY OF BEING WORSHIPPED. According to The Qur?aan He has created us all just for WORSHIPPING HIM.

Peace,
Khalil

bkanwar2

Dear bkanwar2,

The Qur?aan was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) not in writing but as verbal revelation.

The reason I put that question to you was because you have deeply occupied yourself with playing with WRITTEN words and WRITTEN ALPHABETS. You are quite OBLIVIOUS of the fact that The Qur?aan was not organized and written down into a tangible book until the passage of more than two decades after the Prophet's death. Before that, the verses of The Qur?aan for the most part had been memorized within the young Muslim community and was the main source for the process of putting them all together in a single book. Even the first written copies of The Qur?aan did not look anything close to what we have today. There were no written vowels, punctuations, and even no dots associating with the letters of the alphabets! Then through long periods of time all of those gradually got evolved and now you and I see The Qur?aan like we see it today.

Now, you and a few others like you, are sitting in the comfort of your homes and spend so much of your time and energy playing with words coming up with BASELESS, unheard of, and strange inventions, ?analyzing? GOD(SWT). Just see 223 and 228.

Saying all that, and according to VERBAL/ORAL revelation and VERBA/ORAL RECITATION of The Qur?aan, the word ALLAH is the ONE OF A KIND AND UNIQUE UNIVERSAL PROPER NAME and no one else has the write in the WHOLE UNIVERSE to pick this name for themselves.

ALLAH is the only UNIVERSAL DIETY WORTHY OF BEING WORSHIPPED. According to The Qur?aan He has created us all just for WORSHIPPING HIM.

Peace,
Khalil

Dear Khalil, thanks for pointing all those issues with script development. I am very well verse with these and lot more. And keep finding out more and more every day. Hence, I call it a lost language. Despite, these issues mater of fact is that, the only tangible thing we have on hand is this text. In addition, we have achieves of preserved language. Hence, by shuffling through the script with the help of archieves of language, is the only way to get to the real message. It is a tedious work, but very doable.

On other note, I wish you would have commented on the merits of above write up from linguistic reasoning. Instead of telling me the same story that I have rejected based upon factual knowledge.

Peace,

Badar

bkanwar2

Dear Kahlil, you have mentioned 5156 few times. Then, you narrated issues with script, as well. Let us discuss this verse as a prototype for both issues. If you are willing and well versed with Arabic grammar.

(5156

Please, give your take on and grammatical break down. I am seeing some obvious grammatical problems in this word. (Please note this verse is just a cut and paste from an online Quran. Not typed by me).

Peace,

Badar

bkanwar2

Chapter (51) srat l-dhriyt (The Wind that Scatter)
Translation Arabic word Syntax and morphology
(51561)
And not
wam CONJ ? prefixed conjunction wa (and)
NEG ? negative particle

(51562)
I have created
khalaqtu V ? 1st person masculine singular perfect verb
PRON ? subject pronoun

(51563)
the jinn
l-jina N ? accusative masculine noun Jinn

(51564)
and the mankind
wal-insa CONJ ? prefixed conjunction wa (and)
N ? accusative masculine noun

(51565)
except
ill RES ? restriction particle

(51566)
that they worship Me.
liyabudni PRP ? prefixed particle of purpose lm
V ? 3rd person masculine plural imperfect verb, subjunctive mood
PRON ? subject pronoun
PRON ? 1st person singular object pronoun

Above is the grammatical break down for this verse. Link is given below. This is same as used in traditional translations.

http//corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=51&verse=56

Is this correct?

If it is. We will have to accept one of few things.

There is a mistake in Quranic script, above. Or
The Arabic grammar rules are incorrect. This will open up whole pindra box of issues, including current understanding of Quran itself.
Finally current linguistic explanations is incorrect. If we accept this. Are we willing to accept the correct linguistic understanding of this verse?

Peace,

Badar

unknownuser

Is it really worship however? What does worship entail?

The act of "worship", which conjures up images of people throwing themselves on the floor in front of stone carvings does not seem useful whatsoever to people in reality. However it does buy time in which people are distracted from the truth and also provide a diversion for people so that they can get lost in the ins and outs of how to "worship" properly.

I would rather get lose in the ins and outs of how to serve the God properly. Indeed, I believe that in some way that "God" is the totality of existence in some abstract manner (hence the I/We usage in the quran). Nothing useful comes from bowing up and down to the totality of existence but the components that form this totality very much love the doers of good and indeed the only people that do not love the doers of good are the promoters of evil themselves.

The Whole has spent many years building up "his" compendium of creation and we are an insignificant part of the Whole, even on Earth. And while "murder" is the rule amongst non-sapient beings, murder of a sapient being by another is not encouraged by the Whole as evidenced by the reaction of the parts, these things are intrinsically programmed into us. In my opinion the Whole wants nothing less than all of "his" parts working together in synchronous harmony, dancing the divine dance (look at smoke & the flight of birds). If you had a cancerous tumour in your body which also had the gift of sapience, you would ask that tumour what its purpose is in trying to bring ruin to the rest of your body. And if you know in advance that the tumour's only purpose is to bring ruin to the rest of your body, then you would perhaps book yourself in for some chemotherapy.