Peace Anwar and All,

I think its clear that "mixing" has, is and will probably continue in the future; if this wasn't the case, then there would just be three prime races with no subdivisions! And life would probably be a bit boring, don't ya think?

As everybody continues to "mix", I do think its important to know where I come from to get a better understanding of mankind, creation, where everything is going, and my place in this world. Preserving cultural history and acknowledging biological truths isn't separatist. If its truth, then its undeniable. It only becomes separatist when one race's characteristics are preferred over the other, for whatever reason. The latter should be avoided, not the former.

As an African American, I definitely strive to know about my past, remain comfortable in my "black" skin (despite many in the world who ignorantly think anything dealing with ?Blackness? is an atrocity), and celebrate similarities and differences of all races.

And you what's funny? Simply because I choose to be ?proud? of being black, many folk-black and otherwise-automatically think that I am prejudiced against other cultures...they see the afro and start assuming all types of things! And all I?m trying to do is have peace )

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone has been well since the last time I posted.

One thing that sticks out to me is the automatic assumption that "man and woman" is the same as "male and female" which is the same as "masculine and feminine"; they're being used interchangeably. I'm not sure that man/male/masculine are interchangeable at all. The same goes for woman/female/feminine. They're related however..or at least that should be the goal )

When referring to the God being "Feminine", I don't think this can be described by gender (woman) or physical (female) attributes like "giving, nurturing, kind, etc". Perhaps, Masculine and Feminine are Divine attributes that exists within and well above the physical world that we live...

Peace Everyone

I haven't visited the website as often as I used to, but I thought this post would be a cool one to begin my journey back to free-minds -)

I too use divination systems (the I Ching and I'm learning the Metu Neter) in order to gain a broader perspective of a particular choice or situation. From my knowledge of the qur'an, we are completely responsible for every choice we make in this life and in the hereafter. I use divination systems to gain a perspective-unbiased by my own "vain desires"-with the hopes of making better choices and beneficial plans (career, health, relationships, etc). I do agree that one's intuition is an excellent divinatory tool to tap into. I also testify that external divination tools such as the I Ching and Metu Neter help me recognize that little voice inside since, often times, the root intuition reflects what the I Ching says anyway. Sure, modern psychology would say that this particular phenomena is called "self fulfilling prophecy"...you know...you see what you wanna see. But then again, that's the whole point since the God is closer to us than our jugular vein. Or rather, in my heart, The God's intelligence experiences through our own consciousness as well as in the world.

I'm pretty much slow to knock anything until I try it. I must say that divination, in and of itself, has most definitely help me realize and tap into the omniscience of the creator that lies within and understand the dynamic world that lies without.

Peace.

Salam Salika,

you recently married and you think already about divorce? I hope you will not be in my shoes soon Good Luck and thanks for your prayers

Regards
warda

LOL! I'm not planning on divorce, but I also do not subscribe to the eutopic thought that a marriage is until "death to us part". Rather, until the relationship is no longer healthy beyond repair for whatever reason. I cannot predict the future as I do not know what the God has in store for me. I can plan, however. And part of my plan is to accept the best and the worst case scenario. My partner is a kindred soul, most definitely. The best case scenario and the one that I am hoping for is us to build our lives right into infinity. However, I still must keep in mind that this may not be the case, if the God wills otherwise.

Just doing my best to be prepared...

Peace Warda,

I'm glad that you are beginning to see a way to the path you seek. I'll pray for your strength, most definitely.

I am recently married and I too am unclear as to my rights in regards to divorce. I have not seen anyone answer Warda's question regarding men having more say over the finality of the relationship. I currently have this interpretation and I'm hoping someone can challenge it! If not, the God knows best....

My HR person is determined to make me take the day off tomorrow...

I mean, I may take the day off, but I won't be at a mosque

Thanks for the article.

Very interesting indeed.

Well, Zenje,

The word on the street is that Eid Ul-Kitr is Friday, November 4th 2005. This is what I am referring to.

Man,

I can't wait until traditional ramadan is over! Somehow, it has gotten around my office that I am a muslim and everyone keeps asking "I thought you were fasting?" "Are you off tomorrow?" " Are you celebrating eid?" And I have a lot of pressure from the Sunnis....

gesh.....

Wow! What a response! Thank you everyone! Elena, I was a Catholic as well, and yes, ONE GOD is doctrine. I was always taught that the ONE GOD was a triune being, or 3 in one. However, I did get the nonverbal inspiration. I don't know where it came from, well, yes I do, it came from God. But nonetheless, I knew in my heart that there was something very wrong. I prayed to Mary and the saints for intercession, but I never could bring myself to believe in it. It always felt like a waste of time, and thank GOD, now I know that it was. I ate the bread and wine, and was SUPPOSED to believe it was the body and blood of Jesus, but I never could believe it in my heart. First because why would God subject Himself to such a silly ritual? and second because it never 'sanctified' me the way I was taught that it should. Another practice that was a total waste of time. So regardless of what I was taught, God showed me the Truth without books, without words, just inside my heart. After that, He gave me friends that follow the Qu'ran. Allah is all-knowing, and He leads whomsoever He pleases!

Salam,
Nahla

I can relate to your story. I was a prostestant and remember that feeling of "something wrong" oh to well. I read translation, after translation, after translation...I even strived to read an untranslated bible. It felt like something was off with the trinity idea for me. In comparison to the God of the old testament and Isa of the new, I loved and paid more attention to Isa and, although they were supposedly one and the same, something felt REALLY wrong with that in my heart. Then it came to me-before I ever picked up the qur'an-that Isa probably was just a prophet. But I had no proof of this until I began reading The Reading. Once I began to study , it was, as if, I recognized what was written. It was a very difficult transformation at the time. And, many times, I felt completely lost and abandoned once I realized Christianity may not be the absolute truth of God's plan and existance as I was told. And, of course, now I am here.

At any rate, I understand what you are trying to say about Christians serving "one God". But, undeniably, what makes a Christian a Christian is not the belief in one God, but the belief that Jesus Christ was the son of God, son of Mary, God incarnate on this earth. The only way one can be saved from hellfire is to believe in John 316-317

316 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

317 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Many Christians interpret this as Isa being an inteccessor to "save" us....hence, setting up partners. I remember clearly the times when I thought praying to Jesus's father was worthless as Jesus was the one who was doing the saving! roll Now this is not to say that those who call themselves Christians are destined for punishment (even if they were, how would we are not the ultimate Judge). Its not about what you call yourself, its about what you do. Like the reading said, all are not the same....

^^WOW ZENJE shock

Those verses just hit me like whoa like a new revelation man. What surah is it brother??

Those are deep verse by the Almighty. I can just visualise them happening shock shock

I'm glad I'm free from associating The Almighty with anyone or anything. I think believing in One God is a natural instinct we all have within us like we know what is good and bad i.e killing innocent people. With that said one can still attain paradise without the Quran in their life or even hearing of what the Quran is.

PEACE

Peace 2pac and Zenje,

That verse always sticks out in my mind. Particularly since I began my path under Christian theology. Another verse I pay attention to is

520 Rejecters indeed are those who have said "God is the Messiah the son of Mary." Say "Who has any power against God if He had wanted to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother, and all who are on Earth!" And to God is the sovereignty of heavens and Earth and all that is in-between; He creates what He pleases. God is capable of all things.
521 And the Jews and the Nazarenes said "We are God's children, and His loved ones." Say "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" No, you are merely humans from what He has created. He forgives whom He pleases, and He punishes whom He pleases. And to God is the sovereignty of heavens and Earth and all that is in-between, and to Him is the destiny.

I am of the school that thinks "the rejectors (al kafireen)" is a description of a people that oppose/reject/go in opposite direction of God's signs and SJD (hearing and obeying). In other words, a rejector is just not someone who does not believe in God and the last day, but who choose to reject/oppose/go in opposite direction a straight path in behavior and desire. For me, the fact that rejectors are those, indeed, who say God is the Messiah, Son of Mary takes on a whole new meaning that incorporates both the historical and current socioeconomical behavior of those who bare the Christian religion.

The entire idea of the God being Jesus came from scriptures written by the Greeks. The Greeks were, also, the supposed inventors of democrazy. (debatable by some, most definitely). These invented systems are the foundation behind Western influence and-eventually-capitalism. Christian missionary work was a primary catalist for spreading capitalism/democrazy throughout the world. And we all know how unbalanced capitalism has made economic markets globally. Undoubtedly, there have been benefits for some. But with all the benefits that capitalism brings, is the unbalance and exploitation of it all enough to say that it is a system of "rejection"? All this is to say that, once you begin thinking conjecture is absolute truth, it is easy for people to continue walking down a path of rejection...with one invented system after another. Talk about misguidance...

Things that make you go, hmmm. idea

SaLaM Salikah

To God, both men and women are equal but God has made man and woman differently in abilities. There are things a man can do but a woman cant. Then again, there are things women can do and men cant. And God is quite clear in distinguishing this.

Hey Jaxal,

I completely agree with you. However, can you read from the qur'an as to what it is a muslimah should do? There are many verses that may have wisdom applicable to both sexes, but are only directed at "him" or "he". Also, the qur'an often refers to women/wives in the third person. Also, sometimes there seems to be a direct specification

for example

58 O you who believe, if you rise to attend the contact-method, then wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles; and if you have had intercourse, then you shall bathe. And if you are ill, or traveling, or you have excreted feces, or you have had sexual contact with the women, and you could not find water, then you shall select from the clean soil; you shall wipe your faces and your hands with it. God does not want to make any hardship over you, but He wants to cleanse you and to complete His blessings upon you that you may be appreciative.

Without looking closely at the arabic-which I cannot at this point-the ayat seems to be saying that both men and women should bathe after sexual intercourse, but later seems to imply that the one who believes should wash their faces and hands if they come into sexual contact with "the women." That said, if I-as a woman-have sexual intercourse with a man, i should bathe. If I come into sexual contact with a man, I am exempt from washing my hands and face. And all of this is contingent upon whether or not " you who believe" is gender plural!

If the masculine articles are precise language, it seems that the muslimah is exempt from a lot of...well...stuff. This is not neccessarily bad, though...

Peace.

So are you trying to say that the God doesn't differentiate between the male and female sex in the qur'an? I don't agree, but I am also looking for clarifaction. Could you qualify that statement? I am not talking about association, moreso translation. By assuming that the God is referring to both men and women by using the article "he" IS an association, no? I am asking whether or not this is the case or is it a matter of something being lost in translation.

Peace Mquran and Wakas,

Just a thought I have had recently.

Based on your knowledge of the arabic text surrouding and describing slw, how do you guys feel about slw meaning "instruction"...either referring to instruction/direction in sense of which we are used to as well an innate instruction/direction of which we may or may not be aware?

I'm getting ready to see how this all fits into the verses, but thought I would run this idea off of you arabic "experts" too.

peace.

Peace be upon you,

The argument has no foundation because there is no such thing as different forms of peacefulness(islam). Further, he is using the word "muslim" to be a title rather than a description of one who is peaceful. We strive to remain at peace constantly, but certain conditionings we have not yet transcended, so we slip , some more than others.

I concur wink

Just because the Qur'an is the word of the God doesn't mean that it gives us the information we need to understand fully the Universe, Allah, or how Allah operates in the Universe. In my opinion, the parable that mquran pointed out does a good job of showing us how our perspectives-which are an indelible foundation for our logisitical reasoning skills-will not always lead us to the Truth. Unless you receive some sort of knowledge by Allah's leave, the Qur'an alone is still not sufficient enough to explain "the plan" from an objectively divine perspective. Even in the parable, the Servant only had more knowledge of the Reality by Allah's will. I mean, we really don't need to know the plan from an objectively divine perspective as our eternity is determined by our actions. The qur'an spells out our instructions clearly.

Sure, we can rationalize those things that we have knowledge of...our choices and behavior, for example. But to assume that Allah operates on a "logical" plane as we know it is it bit presumptious, in my opinion. Why does mankind always try to give the God human characteristics? I'll reread your post to see if I can better understand your perspective.

Peace.

Doesn't this already negate secterianism? ?

Why does it?

I know that myself, and a couple of people, at least, are not "Qur'an alone". God alone is the closest to any name you could give me. D And I think that goes pretty well with what you said earlier

Yes. This is why I qualified my statement with "many"...as to point out that some people here may not consult the qur'an as a guidance in their lives.

Maybe anyone here would care to clarify;

1. What is the name of this sect? (free-minds?... are the members free-minders? ? )
2. Is this sect a smaller part of the main group - muslims? (as mquran talked about)
3. Is there a leader/messenger as other sects have.
4. Is there a common understanding/rules that we abide by or follow?
   Just checkng. )

I think that I may be talking about a different thing. I was debating whether or not a group of people who follow the qur'an alone could be considered a "sect". My opinion yes, others could. My opinion on free-minds is that it is a website that largely promotes guidance and understanding by the qur'an alone, but doesn't entail everything in my own deen and is a place where everyone of all backgrounds can come and present their perspectives and knowledge. That's it. So, in essence, it has a lot of people who follow the qur'an alone, but that's not it. And you're right...if this website became a sect, what would it be called? Sorry, but I don't think "free-minder" is neither catchy nor accurate lol

One doesn't have to follow the qur'an to be God alone, of course. You can find out answers regarding God's system in the universe by numerous channels. I mean, a scientist who is studying quantum physics is also learning about how God fashioned the universe, is he not?

Peace back to ya! )>-

Peace Mquran,

Al-mumineen refer to people who have achieved a psychobiological state of conviction. This conviction is translated in the worldly domain into certain states of behaviour.

Yes, I have had that understanding for some time now. However, I have recently questioned the simplicity of this statement and am trying to ensure that this conclusion is, at the very least, to the best of my knowledge. Let me clarify that I am not saying that this state of being is simple to achieve or is common. In order to achieve this psychological state takes a lot of transformation of which human "will" and perspective are often henderences. Does that make sense?

Anyway. thanks for the word.

ONE.

May peace be upon all of you

I don't try to define myself by any manmade definition these days. I've gotten rid of the middle man and went straight to the source defining myself by my existence, choices, perspectives, and experiences the God has endowed upon me since the day He fashioned me in my mother's womb wink . However, from an outside perspective, I understand why and how someone would say we are part of the "quran sect".

Sure, I do not have the same convictions that some people at free-minds possess. We are all on our different paths, have different perspectives and knowledge, and have our own deens. However, many of us here do use the Qur'an alone as a guidance for balancing our lives and understanding. I mean, this is the message of the site, right? Why isn't this overwhelming commonality enough for someone to categorize us as a sect? From my perspective, it is. I'm not challenging the assumption that we are not a sect, but am trying to understand a different perspective than my own.

I think the sect question comes into play when we factor in the "organisation" of free-minds. We all have different points of view, most definitely. Additionally, most manmade sects are built upon conformity to certain rituals, expectations, and beliefs. Although everyone is welcome, many of us here try to use the qur'an as our focal point...a beacon of light so to speak. Now, where the God guides us after this is up to...well...the God.

Same focal point...different paths. The God fixed the earth as a mosaic of balanced diversity. So why would we automatically assume that the God would not operate his "system" any differently? And why does this disqualify us as a sect to someone who does not use the qur'an alone as a guidance? I'm doing some research on the differences between al muslimeen and al mumineen. If al mumineen refers to someone who follows the qur'an, would we not be a community then?

fading to silence.....

^^Everyone has it within them I believe to get in touch with the astral/spiritual world....I believe its a natural instinct everyone was born with.....most peoples have lost that contact and become a slave to the physical world which God says is an illusion/not real.

PEACE

I don't know if I completely agree. Humans may have the capability to do such, but they do not have the ability to do this type of travel and projection. However, I do believe everyone has the capability and ability for self realization...to understand the interconnectedness of all creation.

I don't think that any magic is "good magic". We are talking about manipulating outcomes (by whatever medium) by will and that is just too risky for me.

IMO, The greatest protection against devils and magic is you. And beside you, the God is your only protector and friend. You don't need magic
-peace.