Why do you beleive the Quran to be the Word of GOD?
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Peace JavaLatte,
How about their habit using small objects which they consider special, such as carrying "amulet" to provide good fortune and to protect from harm?
That is shirk, but is Muhammad not shirk too or the falsehood circulating around him? They are no better or worse than the other.
True in a way? Would you kindly explain, brother?
Because the animals and nature are closer to God than we are. And they do not really possess any free will or consciousness as we do so they are in closer bond with the energy that is God.
I admire Indians respect for nature and the system of life and their often calm nature, but surely there are hypocrites everywhere. You have probably seen much bad reputation about Indian faith as violent and vile but it is not all tribes.
Do they really have faith in God?
They are often "harmonized" in ways, and they tend to see that the animals can be exquisite channels towards God (they do not believe in God the way the monotheist Ibrahimic faiths do but they see God as a spirit among evil spirits) because of the power of the soul. They think a bit weird to an external viewer, but it may not be so "shirky" and I took the opportunity to study the phenomenon once while I could speak to a contact who knew much about Indian faith.
God bless you
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Peace, Man of Faith.
When I did so I realized Quran is not a book full of rules at all but does not teach much at all but is merely a relief to people that God is really for real. If people know the famous ten commandments and socalled law of Moses, torah/instruction and some inspiration by the works of Jesus then they know what needs to be known and no hocus pocus. And have faith and be a good person.
I agree with you to a large degree... However, I actually do believe that the Qur'aan teaches us many things. In fact, interestingly enough, I learn something new every time I read the Qur'aan! My problem was in HOW I was reading the Qur'aan. Over the course of time, I've come to understand that
- The Qur'aan is not a science book.
- The Qur'aan is not a philosophical anomaly.
- The Qur'aan is not a staple for Judaism and Christianity, and it does not "confirm" the Bible.
In fact, from my understanding, the "Tauraat" mentioned in the Qur'aan is NOT the Pentateuch (first five books of Moses), and the "Injeel" is NOT the Biblical gospels and so-called 'new testament' writings of Saul (e.g. Paul) of Tarsus. Understanding, whether correct or incorrect, is what led me to perceive the Qur'aan differently and begin reading it from a different point of view.
In this day and time, I don't think those "10 commandments" were actually authored by ALLAH (God), at least not in that fashion; and I don't think all of the Biblical stories and characterizations of Jesus in the four Biblical gospels are entirely accurate either. The Qur'aan greatly simplifies the concept of "peaceful submission" (or however else people choose to define 'islam' by saying that the general requirements for happiness and 'salvation' are for people to
- Believe in, or acknowledge, one Supreme Being, generally recognized as ALLAH in the Qur'aan;
- Believe in the "last day", or recognize that justice will be served to everyone equitably, whether good or bad; and
- Live righteous, peaceful and productive lives, generally in the pursuit of helping others.
Everything else is just commentary - elaboration on the points mentioned above.
Peace,
Ahmad
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I think Quran and all of the Books were the inspired word of God, meaning that the words were filtered through humans. This does not mean they are any less sacred. ALLAH/God is infinitely more radiant than what can be contained in the word that took many years to compile. The Book did not just fall out of the sky. His word needed to be comprehended by humanity, finite beings. Additionally, Quran states that it is 'a guidance', indicating that it is not the 'only guidance', in my humble opinion. This does not diminish its sacred relevance to humanity. I have a problem when some people read into Quran to assert that Islam is exclusive...A merciful and compassionate Allah, which is written at the heading of all but one or two Surrah, would never will his creation to experience eternal hellfire. Human will is not stronger than the will of Allah. Human frailties will never thwart the will of Allah for universal salvation of humanity. That would mean Shaitan has more power than Allah, let it never be so, to corrupt Allah's creation and claim them from Allah. Allah created the world and saw that it was good...and humanity is part of this world. Would a merciful and loving Allah hand over part of His creation to Shaitan for eternal punishment? No, because Allah is not a liar. Allah created the world and saw that it was good...Allah did not see that in was partially good. And so, I think interpretations of ayah have been corrupted. And most importantly, Allah is bigger than the Book. When we confine our knowledge of Allah to the Book, we ultimately commit idolatry and spiritual adultery.
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Peace,
And most importantly, Allah is bigger than the Book. When we confine our knowledge of Allah to the Book, we ultimately commit idolatry and spiritual adultery.
I see someone has understood something important. bravo
Have faith
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Peace, Nazrani.
I think Quran and all of the Books were the inspired word of God, meaning that the words were filtered through humans. This does not mean they are any less sacred.
If all of the books were inspired by God but filtered through humans, then how can any of them be held "sacred"? Doesn't this defeat the purpose of an "inspired" work? More specifically, if these people (e.g. prophets, messengers, scribes, exc.) received a specific inspiration from God, or at least what they believed to have come from God, but they interpreted and wrote these words according to their personal understandings and ideas, then how can these books be said to come from God at all?
I have a problem when some people read into Quran to assert that Islam is exclusive...
Actually, according to the Qur'aan, Islam (or submission to God) is the least "exclusive" of all of the predominant ideologies of time. The Qur'aan ultimately claims that anyone who (a) believes in one Divinity, (b) believes in a final day of judgment, and (3) practices righteousness earns a reward with God, being considered among the "muslimoon"/submitters. I haven't seen any other theological, monotheistic ideologies propose this idea, especially during the time in which the Qur'aan was written.
A merciful and compassionate Allah, which is written at the heading of all but one or two Surrah, would never will his creation to experience eternal hellfire.
That depends entirely on the perspective of the individual. It's best not to say things about ALLAH (God) unless we absolutely know them to be true and accurate. We can make our own interpretations of what God will do in the future, but we ultimately don't know. Some of His works and pronouncements are beyond our comprehension.
Allah created the world and saw that it was good...Allah did not see that in was partially good.
Where does the book say that ALLAH proclaimed the world to be "good"?
Peace,
Ahmad
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Actually, according to the Qur'aan, Islam (or submission to God) is the least "exclusive" of all of the predominant ideologies of time. The Qur'aan ultimately claims that anyone who (a) believes in one Divinity, (b) believes in a final day of judgment, and (3) practices righteousness earns a reward with God, being considered among the "muslimoon"/submitters. I haven't seen any other theological, monotheistic ideologies propose this idea, especially during the time in which the Qur'aan was written.
Peace Ahmad Bilal,
One of my initial attractions to Islam was it's inclusiveness as per Quran regardless of sectarian ideologies.
My question to you is as follows Previously you attributed the pejorative "Blind Faith" to others, and you now
claim to submit to the lord of the worlds yourself, Is your faith "blind" or is your arrival to faith based on
something else?God bless
peace
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I think that the ability of people to deluede themselves is great. But also I think that the ability of people to "see" goes well beyond her ability to be conscious of what they do "see". Not everything one knows can be explained in a reasonable way, because probably, we are not capable of having all our experience remembered or recanted by merely wishing it. When we write we may know what we are going to say and why, but to explain it to somebody else in written form we must retrace many, many things, and reserarch things that we do know, but that we forgot how we ame to know.
So what others might call "blind faith", because we do not give an autmatic comprehensive answer, may be perfectly grounded on experience and real knowledge. It is our own effort at honesty to ourselves, to not give in to the temptation of disregarding those nagging things at the back of our minds, which may give us certainty.
As far as I am concerned, I think that nothing is a better seer than faith. I may have been called gut-feeling.
Salaam
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Peace, hawk99.
Previously you attributed the pejorative "Blind Faith" to others, and you now
claim to submit to the lord of the worlds yourself, Is your faith "blind" or is your arrival to faith based on
something else?Actually, I certainly view it as being something else - namely (scientific) investigation and understanding. My former opposition to the concept of divinity wasn't based on the rejection of ALLAH (God), but on the rejection of the sectarian view of Him. Being a former student of Wahhabi (Salafi) Islam, I held a view of ALLAH existing as, for all practical purposes, an 'invisible man in the sky'. That's what I ultimately rejected, and I still reject it today. My perception of ALLAH today is quite different I tend to see Him as being all-encompassing, not much different from the pantheistic model of God.
The Qur'aan states that people will "see" ALLAH on the day of judgment, and my view, in accordance with the Salafi viewpoint, was that ALLAH is a gigantic physical Being with eyes, hands, a face, a back, etc. Even though I rejected their doctrine, I still upheld certain concepts taught by them that I felt were compatible with the Qur'aan. Over time, however, I came to feel that this depiction of ALLAH as a gigantic, anthropomorphic 'sky man' was erroneous, and I felt that it was totally illogical to hold onto a position like that.
Today, I still believe that the righteous will "see" ALLAH on the day of judgment, and they can even "see" Him right now. However, they won't see Him in the sense of viewing some large anthropomorphic figure sitting on a throne, from my understanding. Rather, they will "see" Him in the sense that they will recognize Him in everything. The concept of "seeing" is often used as a synonym for understanding, and this occurs even in the Qur'aan, which is why ignorant people (who reject God) are referred to as being "blind".
I don't see myself as being a "blind believer" today because I see ALLAH everywhere. I see His presence as being all-encompassing, and I see the Qur'aan as being a tool (by no means do I see it as the only tool) to allow other people to "see" Him too. So, to me, God is real - He's just not what I previously imagined Him to be.
Peace,
Ahmad
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I voted other because it was more kind of an emotional event. For me the weight of rational, scientific compatibility and the absence of contradiction does not weigh up against epiphanic shock it caused when I started studying it. I do not deny the other options, they certainly offered me peace on a rational level. But the peace of heart that sparked my belief so to say was 90% an emotional process.
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Harmony be upon you brother Ahmad,
I came to feel that this depiction of ALLAH as a gigantic, anthropomorphic 'sky man' was erroneous
First I would like to thank you for giving me a big laugh that lifted my mood for hours ahead. That "sky man" definition was so funny I could not stop laughing sporadically for a while. I imagined to myself some satire of super man or something. Secondly, I agree with your explanation about how sectarian people define God. I think I earlier tried to raise your awareness that the truth was not like you used to think and God not a "grumpy old bearded man".
I tend to see Him as being all-encompassing, not much different from the pantheistic model of God.
This is the correct definition of what God is, encompassing all things. So much encompassing everything that God is not a thing you can see and why God "said" to Moses that if you can see this mountain shaking then you can see me. Same if you raise your hand to eye-level and behold it then you have also seen God, even if the shaking mountain was more manifest ;D. And look left or right, up or down or look behind you there is God.
Today, I still believe that the righteous will "see" ALLAH on the day of judgment, and they can even "see" Him right now. However, they won't see Him in the sense of viewing some large anthropomorphic figure sitting on a throne, from my understanding.
God will become entirely manifest to these people constantly when that day comes and God is no longer testing them. It will no longer be like talking to someone who is not seemingly replying and thus like a monolog. Despite not being able to literally see God they can feel and hear God within their mind.
The concept of "seeing" is often used as a synonym for understanding, and this occurs even in the Qur'aan
If you follow the text too literally then God has eyes and hands. Obviously one should never take it too literally.
I don't see myself as being a "blind believer" today because I see ALLAH everywhere.
I am really happy for your sake.
Be whole
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I'm not saying that the Qur'aan contains errors; I simply said that it SEEMINGLY contains errors, especially when being judged from skeptical and secular minds. For example, here are the references concerning the points I made
- The Qur'aan implies that the Earth is flat (e.g. spread out/flattened). .
Red I think you're quite honest with that statement (irrespective of whether you believe that the earth is flat or not).
The Qur'aan proposes that the Sun sets in muddy (or murky) water,
I still don't understand about that, but perhaps someday my Rabb will teach me about that, insha'Allah.
which implies that the Sun actually rotates around the Earth.
)
It also proposes the idea that a person can "reach" the place(s) where the Sun sets and rises.
Yes *nod,
I still don't know about such place, but that's interesting and perhaps someday Allah will teach me about that too, insha'Allah.
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The Qur'an, and even your interpretation of it is, is the "word of God", yet just because the Qur'an says something a certain way, does not mean the certain way you understand it (which is also the will of Allah) is necessarily correct.
In other words, you are imagining those things mean a certain thing a certain way, that is where the imagining comes in.
If the Qur'an said a bumpy surface is "flat" then why would you take the oddest possible interpretation of that which defies everything?
Simply take a cruise ship and you'll find that the Earth is round.
What is flat is your "vision", really, its just a flat layer isn't it? Same for me, I just see information, even the impression of depth is information.
This of course won't make sense perhaps to people who think that if the Qur'an says "and the sky impregnated the Earth" it literally means the Sky is a man impregnating the Earth. For goodness sakes! Pagan ignorance if there ever was!