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  4. What does 'islam' mean to you?

What does 'islam' mean to you?

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  • U Offline
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    unknownuser
    wrote on last edited by
    #133

    Leyla,

    Please read from my very first post on thenceforth on this thread and let me know how my statement got nitpicked and deviated. My statement talks about two seperate entities; NATURE and QURAN, not "GOD and QURAN" OR "GOD AND NATURE" and neither does my statement has anything to do with the word 'nature' being mentioned in the Quran or not. These are irrelevant arguments insensibly put forth against my statement.

    Its a general statement made. In other words, how did the incidents and events which happened back then BEFORE the Quran's revelation got mentioned into the Quran. Obviously, the Quran calls for eveything that nature has called for or do you think it was the other way around? Are books written first before anything happens out of no where? What does the word 'nature' mean to you? Perhaps mquran and Ahmed need to open up their dictionaries and encyclopedias and study the word 'nature'.

    Mqurans's approach is, as you see, in no way antagonistic and deceptive.
    It is very logical because it uses the language that the qur'?n itself uses.
    He tried to tell you that your approach is not very convincing because you use an approach that has no base whatsoever within the qur'?n.
    Your concept of nature does not mirror itself within the qur'?n and its concepts.
    That is just simply the observable truth, sorry.
    So you are just projecting personal prejudices onto a text that you did not even study sufficiently.
    That?s very easy to do but it is not an acceptable methodology.
    If you claim that this is not the case, then bring your proof. This is all what mquran has asked you for.
    But instead of doing so you started to do silly rhetorics ..... your rhetorics are not too bad, I have to say. But rhetorics have only few to do with truth.

    You should try acquiring a more sure and consistent knowledge of the qur'?n and its language before you make claims about it.

    Great, more bickering. Read my last post to mquran and above. On the contrary, please translate the verse 930 for me in its entirety as was already requested to mquran. Thanks.

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      unknownuser
      wrote on last edited by
      #134

      Hi all,

      I dont really understand what the fuss is all about.

      It is God who created nature.
      It is God who created Quran.

      God created nature first, and by nature, I mean all that is present naturally such as sky, moon, man ,land, water, animals,etc Life cycles, also events and happenings ......all of it.
      And then Quran came down later to explain and guide stuff about life and nature to mankind.

      EVERYTHING mentioned in the Quran HAS been the result of exactly what NATURE has called for and NOT the other way around.

      So, If there was no nature(no creation), then there would be no need for Quran to explain life and other stuff to man. Thats like saying, if there is no man in the first place, How will the Quran serve its purpose of guiding man?

      To comment on Danish's original statement, Its kind of a tricky one.
      Coz God knows the nature He created. He well knows what and how things will be. So, nature doesnt really call for Quran. Its God who decided when to send Quran, just like He decided how nature was to be.

      Peace!

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        mquran
        wrote on last edited by
        #135

        What you would have maybe realized if you would have maybe really studied the qur'?n, its language and its internal consistencies is that both the words al-yah?d and an-naSar? do have very significant meanings within it that go way beyond "Jews" and "Christians". E.g. the etymological root meaning of al-yah?d is not even related to the Hebrew derived root meaning of "Jew", even despite the fact that Arabic and Hebrew are
        closely related languages.

        Oh. What would 'jew' be etymologised to in Hebrew?

        On the contrary, al-yah?d has a meaning related to the qur'anic Arabic
        etymology of al-hud? (guidance).

        I'm more in favour of HWD which is associated with approaching. I believe alladhina haadu are people who constantly on the approach, still of two minds as they failed to engage with the ayaat of Allah directly.

        The qur'?n does not talk about cultural or religious labels. It talks about universal patterns of human behaviour. It gives significant attributes to people with these patterns, attributes having a consistent meaning within its own qur'?nic Arabic language (which is not the same as modern standard Arabic!).
        And then the qur'?n describes these people so that we can recognize them when we meet them.

        This is what proves it to be al-haqq (41/53)

        When you read 5/18 you will see one of the main characteristics of al-yah?d and an-naSar?, seeing themselves as specially loved children of All?h.
        While this characteristic applies to many Christians and Jews, it also applies to many other people. Including adherents of several nationalisms and, yes, also many traditional muslims. So they all belong to this category. We can all recognize them as such.

        It's only racism which prevents us from doing so. Sunnis love to use al-quraan to justify thier views against the Christians and Jews but fail to see the ayaat working against themselves.

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          Leyla
          wrote on last edited by
          #136

          Salaam mquran.

          The etymology of Jew and Judah (the same word, actually) in Hebrew means something like "one who praises Yah (God)".
          I don?t think that this can be related in any way to the Arabc etymology of yah?d. Furthermore, the y of yah is not even present at all in the variant alladhina hud?.

          bye,

          Leyla

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            mquran
            wrote on last edited by
            #137

            The etymology of Jew and Judah (the same word, actually) in Hebrew means something like "one who praises Yah (God)".
            I don?t think that this can be related in any way to the Arabc etymology of yah?d. Furthermore, the y of yah is not even present at all in the variant alladhina hud?.

            Yes, indeed a long way away. Thanks for the info.

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              unknownuser
              wrote on last edited by
              #138

              God created nature first, and by nature, I mean all that is present naturally such as sky, moon, man ,land, water, animals,etc Life cycles, also events and happenings ......all of it.
              And then Quran came down later to explain and guide stuff about life and nature to mankind.

              Absolutely and thank you 'peacefulmuslim'. I must further add to mention that while nature always existed since its creation, many revelations came down from time to time by the very nature that these revelations were called for. Quran is one such relevation that came in its own specific time which nature called for.

              EVERYTHING mentioned in the Quran HAS been the result of exactly what NATURE has called for and NOT the other way around.

              So, If there was no nature(no creation), then there would be no need for Quran to explain life and other stuff to man. Thats like saying, if there is no man in the first place, How will the Quran serve its purpose of guiding man?

              Prior to al-Quran, everything existed in its good and bad ways and in continuation. Torah was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time. Things got out of hand and Injeel was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time and finally when life further worsened, the Quran was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time and to carry its final message over.

              Now, it wasn't that difficult after all to understand my statement and the fuss and fiasco brought about by mquran was unecessary. He could have simply requested me to explain my statement further right from the start, rather than nitpicking on the word 'nature' out of its context and projecting onto the Quran to be found or not, thus taking the discussion and subject matter at martian levels.

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                mquran
                wrote on last edited by
                #139

                Absolutely and thank you 'peacefulmuslim'. I must further add to mention that while nature always existed since its creation, many revelations came down from time to time by the very nature that these revelations were called for. Quran is one such relevation that came in its own specific time which nature called for.

                Falsehood. Al-quraan is the detailling of al-kitaab (10/37) and al-kitaab was one and the same for all its receipients (2/213). Therefore this notion of 'its own specific time' is nonsense and the reason for its use will disclose itself once the word 'nature' is admitted into our lexicons. Sadly, Danish's lack of seriousness when it comes to studying the book of Allah has allowed him to make frivolous statements. Nowhere has nature called for anything in al-quraan. Allah is the agent behind khalq-as-samaawati-wal-ardh and its an ayaat for believers.

                I advise people in this discussion to question the motives behind the word 'nature'. This notion of al-quraan coming for its own specific time is a movement - consciously or otherwise - to place al-quraan in the relativist domain. This is why the term 'in its own specific time' is used. The next move is to subjectivise 'nature' and hey presto, we will have an al-quraan unsuitable for modern times (another relative notion created by humankind). Be wary of concepts which al-quraan doesn't specify. Al-quraan is tafseel likulli shaiyin or a detailling of every THING.

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                  unknownuser
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #140

                  Absolutely and thank you 'peacefulmuslim'. I must further add to mention that while nature always existed since its creation, many revelations came down from time to time by the very nature that these revelations were called for. Quran is one such relevation that came in its own specific time which nature called for.

                  Falsehood. Al-quraan is the detailling of al-kitaab (10/37) and al-kitaab was one and the same for all its receipients (2/213). Therefore this notion of 'its own specific time' is nonsense and the reason for its use will disclose itself once the word 'nature' is admitted into our lexicons. Sadly, Danish's lack of seriousness when it comes to studying the book of Allah has allowed him to make frivolous statements. Nowhere has nature called for anything in al-quraan. Allah is the agent behind khalq-as-samaawati-wal-ardh and its an ayaat for believers.

                  I advise people in this discussion to question the motives behind the word 'nature'. This notion of al-quraan coming for its own specific time is a movement - consciously or otherwise - to place al-quraan in the relativist domain. This is why the term 'in its own specific time' is used. The next move is to subjectivise 'nature' and hey presto, we will have an al-quraan unsuitable for modern times (another relative notion created by humankind). Be wary of concepts which al-quraan doesn't specify. Al-quraan is tafseel likulli shaiyin or a detailling of every THING.

                  One can clearly notice the fuss and fiasco mquran brings about unecessarily. His comprehension of what is being discussed is deterioting at every post. Baseless and foolish talks are all that is left out of this thread. "peacefulmuslim' seems to be the only one that basically understands what I am talking about. Go right ahead mquran, speak your vain heart out, if that makes you feel any better.

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                    mquran
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #141

                    One can clearly notice the fuss and fiasco mquran brings about unecessarily. His comprehension of what is being discussed is deterioting at every post. Baseless and foolish talks are all that is left out of this thread. "peacefulmuslim' seems to be the only one that basically understands what I am talking about.

                    One advantage about remaining within the traditional fold (sunni, shia etc) is that they will never knowingly disparage al-quraan. They may idolise it or accept false interpretations from thier priesthood but never will they disparage it. Modernists, naturists and rationalists on the other hand, treat al-quraan as if its simply another book which came down 'in its own time' as Danish very clearly puts it. This is born out of an unconscious need to belong to 'modern society'. To me, the ephemerality of science can never compete with hukumullah, God's permanent legislation in reality. I will do my best never to speak so carelessly about His Book. We need to ask ourselves, do we want to be muslims to Allah or muslims to 'modern values'. There is no 'two gods', there's only the one.

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                      unknownuser
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #142

                      One can clearly notice the fuss and fiasco mquran brings about unecessarily. His comprehension of what is being discussed is deterioting at every post. Baseless and foolish talks are all that is left out of this thread. "peacefulmuslim' seems to be the only one that basically understands what I am talking about.

                      One advantage about remaining within the traditional fold (sunni, shia etc) is that they will never knowingly disparage al-quraan. They may idolise it or accept false interpretations from thier priesthood but never will they disparage it. Modernists, naturists and rationalists on the other hand, treat al-quraan as if its simply another book which came down 'in its own time' as Danish very clearly puts it. This is born out of an unconscious need to belong to 'modern society'. To me, the ephemerality of science can never compete with hukumullah, God's permanent legislation in reality. I will do my best never to speak so carelessly about His Book. We need to ask ourselves, do we want to be muslims to Allah or muslims to 'modern values'. There is no 'two gods', there's only the one.

                      WOW! More spewing and senseless talks for entertainment purposes. Admins, please do take note.

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                        mquran
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #143

                        WOW! More spewing and senseless talks for entertainment purposes. Admins, please do take note

                        Danish, I have not been impolite once and have accepted your disparaging remarks but since you wish to be litigious, I will meet you on your own ground.

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                          unknownuser
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #144

                          WOW! More spewing and senseless talks for entertainment purposes. Admins, please do take note

                          Danish, I have not been impolite once and have accepted your disparaging remarks but since you wish to be litigious, I will meet you on your own ground.

                          I already did that, i.e. giving you the taste of your own games. You should be ashamed of yourself for continuously putting up with unwanted discussion. Read and understand what is being discussed without venturing out of subject matter and becoming personal at every given post of mine. If you do not understand what I am talking about, then simply ask. You have several questions unanswered right from the get go. Learn to discipline yourself about how discussions are carried in coherent manner without getting off-track.

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                            unknownuser
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #145

                            Hi

                            I must further add to mention that while nature always existed since its creation, many revelations came down from time to time by the very nature that these revelations were called for. Quran is one such relevation that came in its own specific time which nature called for.

                            Prior to al-Quran, everything existed in its good and bad ways and in continuation. Torah was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time. Things got out of hand and Injeel was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time and finally when life further worsened, the Quran was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for at that time and to carry its final message over.

                            Danish, the way I see it, Allah decides when to send to his revelations and to whom. He knows it before hand.
                            He knows what nature is and how will it be, coz its He who created it in the first place. So, in that sense, God decides on sending his revelation as He has planned out. So, its not nature that calls for revelations. But Its God who decided when to send Quran, just like He decided how nature was to be.Its all a part of God's plan.Allah is all-knowing.
                            So, its neither Quran that calls for nature nor nature that calls for God. Its God who decided on both.
                            So, Its Allah who decides when and how He will send His guidance.

                            Now, it wasn't that difficult after all to understand my statement and the fuss and fiasco brought about by mquran was unecessary. He could have simply requested me to explain my statement further right from the start, rather than nitpicking on the word 'nature' out of its context and projecting onto the Quran to be found or not, thus taking the discussion and subject matter at martian levels.

                            I didnt quite inderstand why any one should get offended. It's just an opinion put forth for discussion. I dont think Danish claimed that his statement is from Quran. It was only his opinion.

                            I advise people in this discussion to question the motives behind the word 'nature'. This notion of al-quraan coming for its own specific time is a movement - consciously or otherwise - to place al-quraan in the relativist domain. This is why the term 'in its own specific time' is used. The next move is to subjectivise 'nature' and hey presto, we will have an al-quraan unsuitable for modern times (another relative notion created by humankind). Be wary of concepts which al-quraan doesn't specify. Al-quraan is tafseel likulli shaiyin or a detailling of every THING.

                            Was such a suggestion made? Danish mentioned''the Quran was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for, at that time and to carry its final message over.''
                            Even according to his post, I dont see any suggestion that Quran is a message meant for specific period of time only?
                            Though I do not agree, nature called for Quran. But its just his opinion. And its open for discussion and exchange of views.
                            Whats there to get offended about?roll

                            One advantage about remaining within the traditional fold (sunni, shia etc) is that they will never knowingly disparage al-quraan. They may idolise it or accept false interpretations from thier priesthood but never will they disparage it. Modernists, naturists and rationalists on the other hand, treat al-quraan as if its simply another book which came down 'in its own time' as Danish very clearly puts it. This is born out of an unconscious need to belong to 'modern society'. We need to ask ourselves, do we want to be muslims to Allah or muslims to 'modern values'. There is no 'two gods', there's only the one.

                            What is ''muslims to 'modern values' ''? ?

                            And who said anything about 2 Gods?shock
                            Aren't muslims those who believe in one God and live a righteous life?

                            Am I missing something? I didnt see how Danish disparaged Quran in the above post. All he suggested was nature was responsible for God to decide to send Quran...Though I dont agree with it, its just his opinion/view. Why should anyone get offended by it? And its not as if he declared it or something. Its just a discussion, isnt it? Whats wrong if he puts forth his view in a discussion? I dont really understand what the fuss is about.

                            And where did he disparage Quran? Have I missed something?

                            Peace!

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                              mquran
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #146

                              I didnt quite inderstand why any one should get offended. It's just an opinion put forth for discussion. I dont think Danish claimed that his statement is from Quran. It was only his opinion.

                              PM, I have to ask you, what is our supposed common criteria? I don't know about you, but to me, I'm here because this forum is meant to centralise al-quraan. Its like when you said 'be respectful to all'. Does al-quraan validate this? So same thing for Danish's comment. We can't speak about al-quraan as we like, can we?

                              There're some things said about language in al-quraan and what happens when you displace language (mutaharrif) from their correct places. Do read about it if you can.

                              Was such a suggestion made? Danish mentioned''the Quran was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for, at that time and to carry its final message over.''

                              This is false. The concept of 'at a specific time' is the accusation which al-quraan repudiates most strongly. 41/53 shows that at any given time, al-quraan prophecises the truth. So there's no 'at its own specific time'.

                              Even according to his post, I dont see any suggestion that Quran is a message meant for specific period of time only?

                              Whew...that's what the whole nature comment is all about. Nature calls for this, nature calls for that. If 'nature' has now evolved, then what of the book born of nature?

                              Though I do not agree, nature called for Quran. But its just his opinion. And its open for discussion and exchange of views.
                              Whats there to get offended about?

                              I'm not offended but insofar as in my perception Im following forum rules, I will speak out against such falsehoods. Whether people believe it or not, that's not the problem. If you follow the thread upwards, you will see that all I asked for is where al-quraan says this falsehood. If you think people shouldn't be accountable for what they say, then that's up to you. I'd be afraid to speak so carelessly about al-quraan if i believed it came from Allah.

                              What is ''muslims to 'modern values' ''?

                              Being a 'muslim' if decontextualised, i.e. taken without rooting in a text is to mean being a 'peaceful/submissive/compliant' person to a given entity. In al-quraan it means being a muslim to Allah through HIS LAWS, i.e. whatever Allah commands, you do.

                              So in the same way, if you're muslim to modern values, then whatever modern values dictate you do. Modernity (or should I say post-modernity) dictates for example that there is no ultimate values, that all values are relative (read Postmodernism and the Other by Sardar), the evolving human nature cannot be constricted by a single text written in its own time. Does that sound familliar to you, PM ?

                              And who said anything about 2 Gods?

                              Please tell me what you understand by the word 'ilah'?

                              Aren't muslims those who believe in one God and live a righteous life?

                              Actually no, you can be a muslim without imaan. Obviously your deeds would be pointless in the afterlife.

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                                unknownuser
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #147

                                This is not about what the word means, it is about what it means to you.

                                For me, it is about equality and justice. Also I consider it as more of a lifestyle as well. A lifestyle that is healthy and progressive and a source of knowlegde.

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                                  yfn123
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #148

                                  Peace mquran,

                                  Al-quraan is the detailling of al-kitaab (10/37) and al-kitaab was one and the same for all its receipients (2/213).

                                  Exactly what is this "al-kitaab"?

                                  Anwar Azim

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                                    unknownuser
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #149

                                    PM, I have to ask you, what is our supposed common criteria? .

                                    My criteria is "Truth".

                                    Was such a suggestion made? Danish mentioned''the Quran was revealed in its specific time for what nature had called for, at that time and to carry its final message over.''

                                    This is false. The concept of 'at a specific time' is the accusation which al-quraan repudiates most strongly. 41/53 shows that at any given time, al-quraan prophecises the truth. So there's no 'at its own specific time'.

                                    And looks to me, u r the one putting a time frame to muslims such as 'muslims to modern values' etc. There is no such thing. According to my understanding, a muslim is one who believes in one God and lives a righteous life.

                                    And its a fact, that Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammed in his lifetime(610-632 CE). So to say, Quran was revealed at a specific time period. U seem to be having a problem accepting a fact.
                                    And as always, u have misunderstood/manipulated his statement.

                                    Peace!

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                                      mquran
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #150

                                      My criteria is "Truth".

                                      Truth according to whom? If someone makes a statement about ad-deen, can you please tell me how you'd go about verifying it? For example, if someone says ad-deen says 'be nice to everyone' ?

                                      And looks to me, u r the one putting a time frame to muslims such as 'muslims to modern values' etc. There is no such thing. According to my understanding, a muslim is one who believes in one God and lives a righteous life.

                                      Ah, a good time to use your 'truth' criteria above. How can we verify this? To me , it's possible to be muslim without belief (49/14) but it appears we disagree. Please show me how we'd go about solving this 'riddle'.

                                      And its a fact, that Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammed in his lifetime(610-632 CE). So to say, Quran was revealed at a specific time period. U seem to be having a problem accepting a fact.

                                      Funnily, al-quraan says its being revealed at present, to us (3/84, 6/114, both of which uses the verb 'nzl' to PLURAL recepients).

                                      And as always, u have misunderstood/manipulated his statement.

                                      Thank you for the accusation.

                                      BTW, you omitted my explanation

                                      PM Even according to his post, I dont see any suggestion that Quran is a message meant for specific period of time only?

                                      MQWhew...that's what the whole nature comment is all about. Nature calls for this, nature calls for that. If 'nature' has now evolved, then what of the book born of nature?

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                                        lovelymoslems
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #151

                                        Do they seek for other than the diin of Allah? While all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (aslama/islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.

                                        According to this verse islam is bowed to Hius Will, means all nature (sun, planets, moon, earth, trees, worms, birds etc) already be muslims, the creatures that have been already commiting to life accoring to what Allah order to them.

                                        Men are not likely, men life with his own idiology, even who making prayer to God, they refuse to establish life as ruled by God. They prefer to abide their own way of live, so they are not deserve to be called as muslim. They are mushollin, not muslim.

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