Reel,

I really like and appreciate your feedback on the Solomon verses. I'll submit my thoughts to such. thx

Regarding entering the holy land, yes, the command was not given to fight. Rather, to 'enter' the holy land.

5-23 Two men of those who were reverent, upon both of whom Allah had bestowed a favor, said Enter upon them by the gate, for when you have entered it you shall surely be victorious, and on Allah should you rely if you are believers.

Now my observation has been that when the word/ variations of "victorious" is used in the Quran, it usually represents a winner and a loser outcome. So my thoughts are that by entering the holy land, there was going to be a winner and a loser.

5-24 They said O Musa! we shall never enter it so long as they are in it; go therefore you and your Lord, then fight you both surely we will here sit down.

Is this an assumption on their part that entering it would involve fighting? Or did they know it would involve fighting and feared that the inhabitants were too powerful for them?

What happened in the Holy Land was also a peaceful process, until the Children of Israel were barred from entering a land which God had given them licence to settle (i.e. you can treat it as reclaiming occupied land under the Quran's laws of warfare.

Layth, please clarify

Peace

When you have GOD,you do not need anyone else.
GOD ,however,sorts people around you, Just sort yourself and Do not worry.
GOD bless.
Peace.

No worries but thank you and Go bless as well. Strictly curious as to whether most of us are the only ones in our community that uphold what we uphold. And, if not, if you meet up and/or do anything constructive together. Personally, I have one friend in my location that loves to build on 'God alone' with me. Another friend is very far away but we have Quran study via phone once per week and bible study once per week. She deeply wants us to build a community.

Thanks for sharing Reel

Yes,

Repentance is what God calls us to in Torah, Gospel, and Quran. I'm sure I've only witnessed the break ups and not the make ups. There is no compulsion in the deen. The ego hates the way of Surrender. May God continue to purify and develop us all.

Peace Good Logic,

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I trust in my Lord as well. I favor and incline towards people who strive to acquire the character that the Quran exhorts. I've seen debates on here (in the past, haven't wandered around lately) that turn into a bunch of sarcasm and name calling. I wouldn't care to network and study with such individuals.

Thank you Cerberus!

Peace to all,

Attempting to understand something. Your feedback is appreciated in advance.

When I look at the rules of engagement in the Quran, I see it is permissible to fight to establish religious freedom, ward off persecution, and to defend against the aggression of others. If I?m missing any please let me know.

But in surah 5, it appears that Moses was asking his people to aggress upon the inhabitants of the ?holy land?. I do not see that they were defending themselves or being oppressed by these people. What I'm getting is simply that these people have land and Moses wants his people to take it from them. But they refused to go in and fight them. So, were the grounds for fighting or aggressing upon them simply that God decreed the land for them?

Also in surah 27, Solomon learns of a kingdom that practiced idolatry. He sends a letter to them and says come to him as submitters. The queen responds by presenting him with a gift (as a sort of peace offering). He informs his servant to go back and threaten them with his military forces. So, what are the grounds for Solomon's aggression? Their idolatry?

thanks
Mar

Peace,

I was curious if anyone besides yourself observes the Quran alone near you (including your household)?
If so, please share something about y'all (do you get together, study together, etc). If there's only you, what are your thoughts about that? Do you talk to people about the Quran? Are you interested in establishing anything locally?

Mar

Peace and blessing to all!

I've been a long time lurker of the site. My brief story I joined the Nation of Islam in my late teens. Around 23, a member had told me about submission.org. A lot of the information resonated with me. After about two months, I fully committed to observing God and Quran alone. I lost basically all support during this transition. A very trying time for me. A few years later, I found myself compromising the deen with the ladies in my life. God kept giving me reminders/signs that I could no longer ignore. I can say that for a solid year now, I've been really focused on the straight path, no longer letting this world's life deceive me. And, this past Ramadan was the best I've experienced.

Myself and another like minded Soul conduct a Quranic study session once a week via phone call. I pretty much have Christians around me full time. I engage a number of them in dialogue, stressing the importance of observing God alone (major sigh). My friend and I have just started a bible study once a week as well. I have hit and miss with study sessions with two other friends (one a Christian and one a Hebrew Israelite). I'd love to have an additional bible study with a God/Quran alone believer who is knowledgeable and interested in the bible (central focus on the oneness of the deen). I just ask for this person's (or people) character to mean as much (rather, more) to him or her as the knowledge does. I'd prefer a good hearted person over a good minded person any day (both combined would be awesome though!). Please PM me if this interest you. May God be pleased with the faith/efforts of those who strive in His name!

Oh, I'm in the States (near Philadelphia).
Peace,
Marlin