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The first few people who embraced Islam at the hands of the Prophet Muhammad , were his wife Khadeejah his adopted son Zayd and his eleven-year-old cousin ‘Ali .
Among the ones who later joined this faith in Makkah were the honest merchant, Abu Bakr; the iron man of
In the city of their migration, Al-Madeenah, people not only welcomed the Muslims, but the ‘sword’ with which it is alleged that people converted to Islam, as well. It did not cease to work even there and its magnetic force continued to "pull" people towards it until the whole of
So sharp was the edge of the ‘sword’! It simply conquered the hearts, the bodies yielded automatically.
What is this ‘sword’ by which Islam spread?
It is the sword of truth, whose shine eliminates falsehood just like light wipes away darkness.
Has the sword gone blunt?
No, far from it.
It continues to pierce the heart of countless men and women even today -- in spite of the relentless efforts by people with vested interests, who would like darkness to prevail, instead of the light of Islam.
Given below are the impressions of some people who were recently conquered by the same sword. They are from different countries, speak different languages and have different backgrounds. Their present addresses are also given. Perhaps you may like to ask them how it feels to be struck by the sword of truth.
1- Leopold Weiss (Mohammed Asad):
Austrian statesman, journalist and author; former foreign correspondent for the Frankfurter Zeitung; author of Islam at Cross Roads and Road to Makkah and translator of the Quran. (Embraced Islam in 1926).
"Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure."
Present address: Dar Al-Andalus, 3 Library Ramp,
2- Ahmad Holt: British civil contractor
Traveled extensively in search of the Divine truth. Spent much time in search and comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
(Embraced Islam in 1975).
"The sword of Islam is not the sword of steel. I know this by experience, because the sword of Islam struck deep into my own heart. It didn't bring death, but it brought a new life; it brought an awareness and it brought an awakening as to who am I and what am I and for what am I here?"
Present address: 23, Welland Garden Perivale, Middlesex UB6 8SZ, UK.
3- Bogdan Kopanksi (now Bogdan Ataullah Kopanski):
Originally Polish, now American. Ph.D. in History and Politics. Had a very interesting journey to Islam and faced severe hardship; was imprisoned twice by the Polish Communist regime (1968, 1981-82).
(Embraced Islam in 1974)
"When I was 12 years old I rejected the illogical and contradictory faith of the Church. Two years later in 1962, I was fascinated by the victorious struggle of the Algerian Muslim Mujaahideen against French colonialism. It was the first ' arrow' of Islam... in high school and the earliest days of my education in the university, I was a typical example of the 'rebel generation' of reds...My way to the truth of al-Quran was slow and unpaved...in 1974 I visited Turkey, I wrote my M.A. dissertation about Sultan and Caliph Suleiman Kanuni’s policy towards Polish Kingdom. There, I was hit by the most beautiful voice of mankind: Athaan, the call to prayer. My hair stood up. An unknown powerful force led me to an old masjid in
Present address : 3013, Harrel, Drive 203 Grand Prairie Tx 75051 USA
4- Vengatachalam Adiyar (Now ‘Abdullaah Adiyar) :
Indian, noted Tamil writer and journalist; worked as a News Editor in Dr. M. Karunanidhi's daily Murasoli for 17 years. Worked with three former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. Received Kalimamani Award from T.N Government in 1982.
(Embraced Islam in 1987).
"In Islam I found suitable replies to nagging queries arising in my mind with regard to the theory of creation, status of women, creation of the universe etc. The life history of the Holy Prophet , attracted me very much and made easy for me to compare with other world leaders and their philosophies."
Present address:
5- Herbert Hobohm: ( Now Aman Hobohm)
German diplomat, missionary and social worker. An intellectual, who has been serving the German Diplomatic Mission in various parts of the world. Presently working as Cultural attache in German Embassy in
(Embraced Islam in 1941).
"I have lived under different systems of life and have had the opportunity of studying various ideologies, but have come to the conclusion that none is as perfect as Islam. None of the systems has got a complete code of a noble life. Only Islam has it; and that is why good men embrace it. Islam is not theoretical; it is practical. It means complete submission to the will of God.'
Present address: Cultural Attaché, German Embassy,
6- Cat Stevens: (Now Yousuf Islam).
British, formerly Christian, world famous pop singer.
(Embraced Islam in 1973).
"It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk.”
Present address: Chairman, Muslim Aid,
7- Ms. Margaret Marcus (Now Maryam Jamilah):
American, formerly Jewish. Essayist and journalist. Author of many books.
(Embraced Islam in 1962).
"The authority of Islamic morals and laws proceeds from Almighty God. Pleasure and happiness in Islam are but the natural by products of emotional satisfaction in one's duties conscientiously performed for the pleasure of God to achieve salvation. In Islam duties are always stressed above rights. Only in Islam was my quest for absolute values satisfied. Only in Islam did I at last find all that was true, good, beautiful and which gives meaning and directions to human life and death."
Present address: c/o Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Sant Nagar,
8- Wilfried Hofman: (Now Murad Hofman).
Ph.D (law) Harvard, German social scientist and diplomat. Presently German ambassador in Algiers.
(Embraced in Islam in 1980)
"For some time now, striving for more and more precision and brevity, I have tried to put on paper, in a systemic way, all philosophical truths, which, in my view, can be ascertained beyond reasonable doubt. In the course of this effort it dawned on me that the typical attitude of an agnostic is not an intelligent one; that man simply cannot escape a decision to believe; that the createdness of what exists around us is obvious; that Islam undoubtedly finds itself in the greatest harmony with overall reality. Thus I realize, not without shock, that step by step, in spite of myself and almost unconsciously, in feelings and thinking I have grown into a Muslim. Only one last step remained to be taken; to formalize my conversation. As of today I am a Muslim. I have arrived."
Present address: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, BP 664,
9- Cassius Clay (Now Mohamed Ali Clay):
American boxer (three times world heavyweight champion). Formerly Christian.
(Embraced Islam in 1965).
"I have had nice moments in my life. But the feeling I had while standing on Mount ‘Arafaat on the day of 'Hajj' (pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there, as over a million and a half pilgrims invoked God to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors, races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam."
(Speaking to the daily "Al-Madinah" Jeddah, 15, July 1989).
Present address: 1200 E, 49 St.,
These were the impressions of a few persons who had been struck by the sword of truth themselves.
As for the propaganda that it was the sword of steel (i.e. the force ) which was instrumental in the universal expansion of Islam, we give below remarks of some prominent non-Muslims refuting this baseless claim:
1- M K Gandhi:
".......I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble."
Young
2- Edward Gibbon:
"The greatest success of Mohammed's life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword." History of the Saracen Empire,
3- A S Tritton:
"The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other quite false." Islam, London, 1951-page 21.
4- De Lacy O'Leary:
" History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."
Islam at Crossroads,
5- KS Ramakrishna Rao:
"My problem to write this monograph is easier because we are not generally fed now on that (distorted) kind of history and much time need not to be spent on pointing out our misrepresentations of Islam. The theory of Islam and sword, for instance, is not heard now in any quarter worth its name. The principle of Islam that: ' there is no compulsion in religion' is well known".
Mohammed the Prophet of Islam,
6- James A. Michener:
"No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam...The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Quran is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience".
Islam- The Misunderstood Religion, Readers' Digest (American Edition ) May 1955.
7-
"Incidentally these well-established facts dispose off the ideas so widely fostered in Christian writings that wherever the Muslims went, they forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword."
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Iron Between Science and Quran
Was iron formed in the earth ?
The observable universe is composed of hydrogen (74%) and Helium (24%) ,while the other 105 elements form (2%).On studying the sun ,scientists found that it is only hydrogen and Helium that are there , it is known that hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium and the sun nuclear reaction will remain as so till the sun runs out of hydrogen then begins to change into red giant where it will swallow the moon and the other planet .
God says in the Holy Quran what means""And when the moon and the Sun are joined together "
So iron did come from the outer space.
"He sent iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind " ( Iron :25)
It was only when the earth was like a heap of ash that it was bombarded with iron meteorite , because of the high density of iron it found its way towards the core of the earth .
God in His holy verse reminds us of His favours to us that He sent down iron , though there are many other elements He sent, the question is why God mentioned iron and not of other elements .
Without the iron atom, there would be no carbon-based life in the cosmos; no supernovae, no heating of the primitive earth, no atmosphere or hydrosphere.
The intriguing and intimate relationship between life and iron, between the red color of blood and the dying of some distant star, not only indicates the relevance of metals to biology but also the biocentricity of the cosmos… "
A Numeric Miracle
The Holy Quran is like the fabric of the universe , every letters , every word and every Surah are in accordance to some numeric miracles. Scientists are now doing their best to find out more about the Holy Book . For example there is a numeric miracle in the Holy Quran concerning iron .
Surat al-Hadid 25, which refers to iron, contains two rather interesting mathematical codes.
“Al- Hadid” is the 57th surah in the Qur’an. The abjad of the word “Al-Hadid” in Arabic, when the numerological values of its letters are added up, is also 57.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"….is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light r
This verse appears towards the end of Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow), which was revealed in Madinah and has 286 verses. It is the longest Surah in the Qur'an and gets its name from the miraculous story mentioned in it about a man from the Israelites was murdered in the days of Musa (AS) and the identity of his murderer was unknown. Thus Allah (SWT) ordered Musa (AS) to order his people to slaughter a cow and to strike the dead man with a part of it; he then came back to life by Allah's will and told them the identify of his murderer. Truth was able to prevail as a result of this miracle and it was a manifestation of Allah’s (SWT) power to resurrect the dead.
Surat Al-Baqarah deals with the Jews and Christians at length; this subject matter covers more than one third of the Surah. The Surah concludes with an affirmation of the reality of faith and with a supplication to Allah that touches the heart and mind. The most significant facts mentioned in the Surah can be summarized as follows:
Personal characteristics of a virtuous believer mentioned in Surat Al-Baqarah:
1. Patience in suffering and adversity;
2. Fulfilling covenants and promises;
3. Courage and intrepidity in seeking martyrdom in the cause of Allah;
4. Boldness in upholding justice, declaring one's opinion and refraining from suppressing testimony;
5. Bounty, generosity and spending money in the cause of Allah;
6. Striving to do good deeds, to say kind words and to forgive others;
7. Showing respects to one's parents and kindness towards kin, orphans, the poor and to all people, and helping the needy without humiliating them or harming.
8. Avoiding all types of ill-gotten gain.
Tenets of faith in Surat Al-Baqarah:
Surat Al-Baqarah provides details of the rules governing the Muslim family from marriage, divorce, weaning children, the iddat (waiting) period for women after divorce or the death of their spouse, etc. Men are also ordered to refrain from having sexual intercourse with their wives during their menstrual cycles and marriage with polytheists is forbidden until they believe.
This Surah lists the foods that are forbidden, such as dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine and any animals that have not been slaughtered in the name of Allah. It is not sinful, however, if one consumes these foods through extreme necessity. Furthermore, the surah prohibits both intoxicants and gambling.
Retribution (qisas) is the rule stipulated in the case of murder.
The Surah encourages will writing and prohibited concealment or falsification of a will.
It prohibits the unlawful usurpation of other people’s property or possessions.
It sets checks for debt transactions.
Riba is prohibited outright. ( Riba: is that amount of money added to the original sum or balance of money that was borrowed, in other words; interest).
It encourages people to treat orphans well and sets up checks concerning money spent in the cause of Allah.
It prohibits the denial of undeniable religious truths.
Stories in Surat Al-Baqarah:
Many of Allah's prophets and messengers are mentioned in this Surah and reference is also made to a number of events that provide useful allegories, such as the following:
The story of Adam and Hawa’ (Eve).
The story of the people of Israel and the Pharaoh, covering their exodus from Egypt with Musa (AS) who led them across the sea, and how water sprung out of the earth for their consumption and how they were then disobedient after receiving all these blessings from Allah and reverted to worshipping a calf. There is also reference to the story of how Allah transformed those who broke the rules of the Sabbath into monkeys. The Surah also refers to their denial of Allah’s signs and verses, their unjust slaying of prophets, distortion of the Torah, their disobedience to Allah's commands and transgression of the limits set by Him. Moreover, it shows how Allah raised above them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai) to threaten and frighten them, as well as their story with the murdered person and Allah's order to them to slaughter a cow and to use its parts to hit the murdered person so that Allah (SWT) would resurrect him and let him utter his murderer's name then die again and their story with their king Talut (Saul) and with Galut (Goliath) and Dawud (AS) “David”.
The story of prophets sent to the people of Israel such as Dawud (AS) and Solaiman (AS).
The story of Ibrahim (AS) and his son Isma'il (AS), who raised the foundations of the Ka’ba, and their prayer to Allah (SWT) to send the final prophet to Makkah and the debate between Ibrahim (AS) and King Nimrod who was the first man to falsely claim divinity to himself.
The story of Yaqub (AS).
The changing of the Qibla (direction for prayer) from Jerusalem to Makkah.
The story of Isa (Jesus) (AS).
The story of the Uzair (Ezra) who went to Jerusalem after it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; the verse states what can be translated as,* “…He said: “Oh! How will Allah ever bring this town back to life after its death and destruction?” So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, and then raised him up (again). He said: “How long did you remain (dead)?” He (the man) said: “(Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day”. He said: “Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they show no change; and look at your donkey! ( it was remnants of its bones and Allah brought it back to life in front of him )And thus We have made of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh”. When this was clearly shown to him, he said, "I know (now) that Allah is Able to do all things.”” *(TMQ, Surat Al-Baqarah: 259)
Signs of Creation in Surat Al-Baqarah:
Surat Al-Baqarah mentions many of signs of creation that can be summarized as follows:
The distinction between the different types of light, each with its own characteristics and the contrast between darkness and light. These are scientific realities that have only been recently discovered.
The fact that hearing precedes sight in human development. It has been scientifically proven that in the stages of the creation of a human being, hearing is developed before sight.
The description of how heavy outpours of rain are consistently accompanied by darkness, thunder and lightning.
Reference to the consecutive stages in the Earth’s preparation to receive human life, from leveling the Earth’s surface, the building the heavens surrounding it, rain descending on the Earth, fruits grew on the Earth for our sustenance, revival of the earth after it had been barren and the scattering of all kinds of animals throughout the earth.
The miracle of the sea splitting for Musa (AS), was also mentioned, saving him and those who were with him from the Pharaoh and his soldiers, as well as of the gushing forth of twelve springs with one strike of Musa’s (AS) staff. These wells still exist until today along a single fault in the Earth’s crust in the eastern area of the Suez Peninsula.
Reference to psychological elements such as fear, suspicion and doubt, all of which have shown by studies in the field of psychology to be scientific truths that were unknown at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an.The hardheartedness of the Jews is mentioned and is compared to the hardness of rocks; their hearts are considered harder than rocks as there are some rocks which soften with the rivers that flows over them, there are some that split and water flows out of them and others that sink for fear of Allah (SWT).
Reference to the true East and West of the Earth, giving an indication of the Earth being the centre of the universe. This is a scientific fact that has yet to be accepted by secular science.
Reference to the creation of the Heavens and Earth, the alternation of night and day and the passage of ships through the sea for the benefit of mankind; all of this is part of Allah’s supreme Dominion.
Reference to the direction of the winds and the clouds which trail between the heavens and the earth in subjugation. These are scientific truths that have only been slightly understood in the latter decades of the twentieth century.
New moons are signs to mark appointed times and dates in the lives of people and for the pilgrimage.
Reference to women's menstrual periods and advising men to refrain from sexual intercourse with women during menstruation due to the harm and damage that can be inflicted on women as a consequence. Medical studies have indeed confirmed this fact.
Emphasizing the dangers of intoxicants and gambling which outweigh any benefit that may be reaped from them.
Mentioning the scientific truth that an orchard on a flat surface, which is more elevated than what surrounds it, if subjected to heavy rain, will bear twice the amount of fruit. This is because the likelihood of it being flooded with heavy rain is non-existent as the water quickly drains away from the soil after it has taken what it requires; this is as it is elevated above the valleys surrounding it. If, however, it does not receive heavy rain but light moisture (dew or light drizzles of rain) it is sufficient to water the plants and to produce plentiful fruit.
The point here is that such a garden on a height, thrives, flourishes, bears fruit and produces generously whether or not it receives heavy rain.
Surat Al-Baqarah describes those who spend for the sake of Allah and who are righteous. Allah makes what they have spent for Him in His cause thrive and grow (irrespective of whether the amount spent is large or small); the rewards of spending for the sake of Allah are compared to the produce of the garden on a height thrives and grows whether or not it receives heavy rain.
Each of the above mentioned scientific matters requires separate analysis; therefore, I will only focus my analysis in this article on the last point concerning the description of the garden on a height. Before starting, we shall have a quick look at the interpretation of this noble verse by old and contemporary scholars.
Interpretation of this verse by scholars:
Concerning the interpretation of the following verse that can be translated as,* “And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s Pleasure and to strengthen their souls, is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.”* (TMQ, Surat Al-Baqarah: 265).
Ibn-Kathir said, “This is the likeness of the believers, who spend their wealth seeking to please Allah by doing so. * “…and to strengthen their souls …” *They know for a certainty that Allah will reward them most generously for spending in His cause.
Al-Sha’abi explained* “…and to strengthen their souls…”* means that they do this out of true faith and absolute certainty.
All the scholars agree that *“…is the likeness of a garden on a height…”* means a place that is elevated from the ground; Ibn Abbas and Ad-dahak add that rivers flow through this garden. *“…Heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest…”* means it bears twice the amount of fruit as compared to other gardens, if it receives heavy rain.
Safwat Al-Bayan says that *“…and to strengthen their souls…”* means that as well as spending their wealth to seek Allah’s pleasure, they do so to accustom themselves to patience adherence to the pious act of spending in the cause of Allah and to firmly guide themselves away from anything that spoils or corrupts the intentions behind and the execution of this deed. It could also mean to affirm and strengthen their faith in Allah and to obtain the promised reward that is a consequence of their actions, since their actions are what drives and initiates their reward. The word *“…garden…”* is used to mean the trees that are closely intertwined as well as the land on which these trees grow, however, the first meaning (the trees) is more pertinent to the context.
*“…on a height…”* A height is an area that is elevated above the level of streams. Trees that grow at heights are normally more beautiful and their fruit are more delicious. The word *“…harvest…”* means fruits. The expression *“…light rain…”* refers to the lightest drops of rain or to the drizzle that suffice the garden due to its high fertility.
The intended meaning is that the garden thrives and bears fruit whether the rain it receives is heavy or light, just as what is spent in the cause of Allah for His pleasure and to strengthen the souls thrives and grows (whether the amount expended is large or small).
The scientific implications of the noble verse:
It is an obvious fact that the earth’s surface is not completely flat. It ranges from high lofty summits to low lying mountain ranges to the level plains that stretch to reach an altitude slightly above sea level.
Between the lofty summits and the leveled plains, we find heights and hills with different altitudes until we reach the plains, then we find continental depressions and sea and ocean trenches.
The reason why the topography of earth is variable is because of the different chemical and mineral composition of the rocks forming it and consequently the difference in the density of these rocks. This is because the earth’s solid layer (earth’s crust) floats on a layer of semi-molten materials, which is called the weak zone (Asthenosphere) in the earth’s layers. This floatation is governed by the laws and principles. (For example buoyancy principle, just as an iceberg that is less dense than water floats in the ocean).
The highest peak on the earth’s surface, Mount Everest in the Himalayan mountain range, reaches an altitude of 8848 m above sea level. The lowest point on land’s surface is the floor of the Dead Sea (a part of continent not marine) and is about 400 m below sea level. The average altitude of land on earth is roughly 840 m above sea level.
The deepest point on the ocean floor of the earth is the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean; its depth is a little over eleven km whereas the average depth of ocean floors is about four km (3729 to 4500 m) below sea level.
These variations in altitudes provide vastly varying types of living environments, each suited for a specific form of life. We find therefore that fruit and chestnut trees and in general trees that have produce grow best on hills and heights that are under one thousand m above sea level, whereas grains and potatoes stop growing at about two thousand m above sea level (around 2160 m). The maximum altitude for forest growth is 2660 m above sea level.
The height best suited for a garden that was given as an example in the verse under analysis is wondrous, since this is the best environment known to us for the growth of fruit trees and others trees that have produce such as olive trees, almond trees, pine trees and others. This is because the environment of heights is characterized by mild weather, abundant water, a greater chance of being exposed to sunshine, rainfall, humidity, wind movement and to air renewal around it. Therefore it is the most suited environment for the growth of trees in general and of fruit trees in particular.
Heights are features of the earth’s surface that are leveled and elevated above sea level by an average altitude ranging from 300 to 600 m. Their altitudes are lower than that of mountains and higher than that of hills. Consequently, rain water never drowns heights, no matter how strong the rainfall is. That is because the rain water is pushed ever downward by the force of gravity to the surrounding areas that are lower than the height. That is after its soil and rocks had been saturated with the required amount of water, which both cools and refreshes them and is stored in them. Controlling the amount of stored water helps plants perform their vital activities efficiently without drowning or dehydration. Dehydration kills the plants and drowning them in water or having an increase in the water storage in the rocks and soil would result in the decay, rotting and decomposition of the roots which would also kill the plants.
When heavy rain falls on a height, both its soil and rocks and the plants growing on it take their required intake of water, while excess water flows over to the lower surrounding areas till it reaches the valleys and the plains. The controlled amount of water stored in the soil and rocks of the height helps the roots of plants in general and of trees in particular to extend deeper into the soil and rocks. This multiplies the amounts of elements and compounds that become available for the roots to absorb, along with the nutritional sap they extract from the ground. The extended roots also help fix the plants in the ground and make them resistant to strong wind and other environmental changes.
One of the advantages of the environment of heights is that if it receives heavy rain, it doubles its produce and if the humidity decreases and only drizzle or dew are available as moisture, it still bears plenty of fruit. This is because plants growing on heights are able to benefit from the rain water whatever the quantity they receive, as well as from the dew that condenses at higher rates than in plains or in closed valleys, particularly in dry regions.
Fruit trees and others trees such as olive, almond, and pine trees bear more fruit at heights that are above sea level than on level plains and closed valleys because if heavy rain falls on the height, the excess water quickly flows away from it after the garden has taken its water requirements. It therefore benefits it and does not harm it in any way. The garden therefore bears double the amount of fruit. Nevertheless, when the garden does not receive heavy rain then the drizzle or dew condensing around it is sufficient to provide it with its water requirements, so it continues to live and bear fruit by the will of Allah.
The verse thus likens those who spend their wealth, seeking Allah’s pleasure and to strengthen their souls (whatever their material ability) to a fertile garden with fruitful trees growing on an elevated height in favorable environmental conditions that have provided the garden with all the means for growth and a very generous production of fruit when it receives heavy rain, moreover, still a generous production of fruit if it receives light rain. The continuous production of this garden does not stop under any circumstance, similarly believers spend in the cause of Allah driven by their faith in Allah (SWT) and their firm belief that He is the Sustainer and that He is the Powerful and the Strong. They therefore spend in His cause whether their financial ability is strong or weak. They spend seeking only His pleasure and the strengthening of their souls, since one of the ways to train the human soul is through spending money in the cause of Allah, and in this respect Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, *“And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking Allah’s Pleasure and to strengthen their souls, is the likeness of a garden on a height; heavy rain falls on it and it doubles its yield of harvest. And if it does not receive heavy rain, light rain suffices it. And Allah is All-Seer (knows well) of what you do.”* (TMQ, Surat Al-Baqarah: 265).
This verse points clearly to the preference of growing fruit trees in general on heights, which are flat elevated grounds, lower than mountains and higher than hills, ranging in altitude between 300 and 600 m above sea level. This is a scientific fact that has been proven by experiments over successive decades. This scientific fact is present in the Qur’an which was revealed over 1400 years ago to an illiterate prophet (PBUH) in a nation whose large majority were illiterate and living in a dry desert with no knowledge of gardens or fruit trees except for palm or some vines in very limited areas of it. This Qur’anic description therefore bears witness that these are the words of Allah, the Creator, who has revealed it with His knowledge to His last prophet (PBUH). Since the Qur’an is the last message, Allah (SWT) has undertaken to guard it in the same language of its revelation (Arabic). Therefore, He has protected it word for word, letter for letter, from any addition or omission or alteration or change, for over 14 centuries and until the Day of Judgment, as He has promised what can be translated as,* “Verily, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)”* (TMQ, Surat Al-Hijr: 9).
Praise be to Allah for the favor of the Qur’an and praise be to Allah for the favor of Islam and praise be to Allah for guiding us to this while we could never have been guided to this had it not been for the guidance of Allah, and praise be to Allah in the hereafter and in this first world. Blessings and peace be upon the last prophet and messenger and on his family and companions and all who follow his guidance and invoke with his invocation until the Day of Judgment.
By Dr. Zaghloul El.naggar
Islam: a home of tolerance, not fanaticism
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Sufyaan Gent: It was as if 'the scales fell from my eyes'
Whilst working as a civil servant in London, he met a Muslim lady who later became his wife.
On listening to the obvious, plain and simple truth of Islamic teachings, he became fascinated with this great religion. He started to practice it and from there took it to his wife. Their life was transformed from weak belief to a life dedicated to worshipping God alone.
Sufyaan has organized several weekend conferences and Islamic exhibitions and is currently involved with the Islamic Society of Britain.
“Before I became aware of Islam I had a strong belief in God, but I could not find an exact expression of that belief in any of the churches I attended.
“I tried to live as I felt a Christian should live, caring for my family, working hard, trying to be honest, and not interfering with others. Then, in 1977, I met my future wife, who was a student in London, where I lived at that time.
“She explained to me the Islamic belief that there is none worthy of worship but Allaah and that all Prophets were simply telling the same simple truth, that there was only one God and that mankind was born to worship Him. She explained that there was no difference between working and praying, as everything was an act of worship to be carried out according to God’s will.
Consequently, I gladly accepted Islam in 1977 and we were married. However, my lifestyle did not change, I just went on living as I had before the Shahadah ( the testimony that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger), and this state of affairs continued until 1987. It was then that I started reading about Islam with a view to trying to teach my son about his religion before he started school. He was about three years old at that time.
When I began to read I realized how I had not been fulfilling my obligations to my creator. I thought that by declaring “There is none worthy of worship but Allaah” I had done enough. Very soon I started to realize that I had to pray, fast, pay Zakat, go on pilgrimage when I could afford it, and become part of the Muslim community.
So, Alhamdulilaah, (“thanks to God”), I started to do these things. It was, as stated in the Glorious Quran, as if the “Scales were lifted from my eyes.” Now, I long for the time for prayer, I love the month of Ramadhaan, I gladly pay Zakaat, and I performed Hajj in 1992, all thanks to God.
It is difficult not to get bloated with your own importance as a new Muslim. You get used to being given special treatment by your Muslim brothers, and this is something we should try and avoid, as there is no difference between the believers. The devil will try to exploit human weakness and make you think you are special, and so we must pray to avoid this trap.
I look forward to the time when the Muslims take the message of Islam to the non-Muslims here. We must lead by example, as we are the best of nations so we must behave as such.
Through honesty, truthfulness, polite behavior and caring for all humanity is how Islam spread in the beginning. We must get out of a ghetto mentality and we must also avoid the other extreme of becoming so anglicized that we lose Islam altogether.
Islamic teachings show us that everything is in balance; we must make our presence felt by helping to provide a moral lead to society, but at the same time keep an Islamic identity as opposed to a nationalistic one.
Now, as a Muslim, I cannot understand the attractions of pubs, discos, nightclubs, expensive holidays and so on. If you are amongst a community of believers you derive your pleasure from sitting with them, discussing the wonders of our Creator, or by enjoying with your family and doing things together, living in a closely knit environment of mutual love and respect. Non-Muslim households miss these benefits with everyone in the family looking for their own personal enjoyment.
Saturday : 10/03/2007
Mum, I've decided I want to follow Allaah
McCrindle, from a family of atheists, did not encounter religion until she began religious studies at high school in Penicuik, when her new interest prompted her to start going to her local church on Sundays. But the peace and happiness McCrindle was looking for eluded her until she started college in Edinburgh, where she made friends with some Muslim people and discovered Islam.
"I was looking for peace," she says. "I'd had a rough past. My teenage years weren't great: I was bullied at school, people called me fat and ugly, and I was looking for something to make me happy. I tried to go to church once a week but I wouldn't class myself a Christian; I was just interested. But it wasn't for me, I didn't feel in peace there.
"When you walk into a mosque you feel really peaceful. Praying five times a day is really focused. It gives you a purpose in your life. The Quran is like a guide to help you: when you read it, it makes you feel better."
McCrindle became a Muslim three years ago and is now known by her married Arabic name, Tasnim Salih. She is one of a rapidly increasing number of British women turning to Islam, thought to be the fastest growing religion in the world.
"There are people reverting all the time," she says. "I would estimate that there are probably around 200 reverts to Islam in Glasgow alone, but that's just a rough estimate. The data is difficult to acquire." Other estimates put the Glasgow figure closer to 500.
The appeal of Islam to liberated western women is difficult for many to understand, largely because of the widespread perception in the west that it treats women badly!
A forthcoming documentary, Mum I'm a Muslim, addresses this very issue by talking to converts in Sheffield about their experiences. At a preview in Glasgow, I asked a group of reverts from Glasgow and Edinburgh what motivated them to change every aspect of their lives, including their names, to become Muslim.
For 27-year-old Bahiya Malik, or Lucy Norris to her parents, it's difficult to explain. Bahiya, who lives in Edinburgh, her twin sister, Victoria, and their brother, Matthew, grew up as practising Christians in a rural area in the West Midlands, where they attended Sunday school in the little church at the top of their road. As they got older, the three stopped going to church and seven years ago, at the age of 20, both Bahiya and her sister converted to Islam - six months after their brother.
"Maybe all through our teenage years we hadn't been that happy. I can't really say what it was. I don't know if we felt there was something missing or that we didn't fit in. We were a little bit shy and we weren't really outgoing sort of people," she says. At the time, Bahiya was two years into a media and television course in Edinburgh but was feeling uninspired. After around six months of learning about Islam, Bahiya realised that living her life according to the rules of Islam was what would make her happy and, during an emotional visit to a mosque in London, made her declaration of faith.
"I think it's something you feel in your heart, this pull," she says. "You can't really put it into words. It's like your heart speaking, something you feel inside and you know it's for you. Allaah has chosen this for you, it's out of your power."
Women who turn to Islam are aware of the widespread western perception that they are oppressed and discriminated against, but insist that the depiction is a false image. For many it is a spiritual journey, which, far from repressing them, improves their social status and gives them new rights.
"You seem to be really looked after," says Tasnim. "As a Muslim woman, Muslim men really respect you; they do everything for you. You're highly thought of and protected." Bahiya says: "I feel that because you cover yourself up you're not seen as a sex symbol, and because people can't judge you on your appearance, they have to judge you as a human being. That's quite liberating."
As an act of modesty, many Muslim women don't wear make up outside the home and it is often a part of their old life that new female converts are happy to discard because of the liberating feeling that comes from knowing their appearance doesn't matter. They resist being shown as they were before their conversion.
Hafsa Hashmi, who lives in Glasgow, converted to Islam 24 years ago and felt life outside Islam was like having to "keep up with the Joneses". Under Islam, however, she says: "Your aim is not for this life, your aim is for the afterlife. To some people that sounds pretty horrific: they can't think about death, but in Islam belief in the afterlife is one of its main features, because you know if you're doing the right thing you've got a better life to come. So why go for all the material things?"
Reverting to Islam usually means a complete change of lifestyle for those who take the plunge, including a different diet, often a new Arabic name, and your time revolving around the five daily Islamic prayers. In the workplace, some people organize with their employer a room where they can have some peace and quiet to pray. Wherever they are in the world, all Muslims face in the direction of the Kab'aa, or the Holy House in Makkah, during prayer.
For female reverts, the experience can also involve a quite dramatic change in appearance. Islam provides that women must dress modestly. The hijaab, or the head scarf, is a particular focal point and can be a tricky area for new Muslim women to deal with. Tasnim wore the hijaab straight away, although she found wearing it in public scary at first because she felt people were looking at her. She was then forced to take it off when she was out because of some of the comments directed at her.
"People would shout, 'Go back home to your own country'. I had someone spit at me once when I was standing at the bus stop at college!" Now, though, she wears it all the time and says: "People don't say anything to me now and I feel more confident about wearing it." Bahiya was happy wearing the hijaab from the beginning, but her parents found it quite difficult. She says her sister, her brother, and herself were lucky because their parents were "quite good" about their conversion.
For others, however, families are not always so accepting, often because they know little about the religion and why their loved ones want to follow it. For Tasnim, telling her parents, who are atheist, was nerve-wracking. "They thought I was going through a phase at first but they realised when I started wearing the hijab that I was serious. They started getting angry when I began to talk about getting married. They weren't too pleased that I'd met someone older than me, who was Muslim as well, and a different nationality."
While Tasnim and her mother are still close and enjoy a good relationship, they tend not to talk about her faith much. She and her father no longer speak. For Hafsa, telling her parents 24 years ago was perhaps even more difficult because converting to Islam then was anything but a common occurrence. The reactions of her parents were totally opposite. "I think my mother felt that I was only becoming a Muslim because of who I was marrying, but that wasn't the case because I had been introduced to Islam about four years previously although I didn't revert until I got married. It took her practically her whole life to get over it. When we got married, my mum said, 'If you're happy, I'm happy', but obviously she wasn't. My dad said it and he meant it, that was the difference between them."
Tasnim has been married to Sabir, who is Sudanese, for two years, and says she has never been happier. "I met my husband at college and it seemed like the right thing to do. I was teaching him English and he was talking to me about Islam, and we just fell in love," she says. Bahiya's husband, Sharafuddin, is also a convert, formerly known as Cameron. They have two children, aged two and four.
For Tasnim, Bahiya, and Hafsa, life revolves around the five daily prayers, they cannot eat certain foods, or drink alcohol. But the women say they miss nothing from the days before they converted to Islam. "Islam is enough for me," says Bahiya. "You don't need anything else once you've found it!"
Becoming Muslim has provided Tasnim with the happiness and belonging she was looking for. "It's a complete change in your attitude, behaviour, and the way you think," she says. "I'm now more confident, happy and satisfied. I've achieved the fulfilment I was looking for."
Saturday : 10/03/2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Islamic Concept of God
Chapter 112 of the Quran entitled Surat al-Ikhlas (SINCERITY), serves as a good starting point to discuss the unique way in which God is viewed in Islam.
The first verse of this chapter declares the oneness of "Allah", the Arabic word for God. The word "Allah" itself is worthy of reflection with regards to this discussion.
"Allah" in Arabic is derived from "Ilah" which means god. Whereas "Ilah" can be changed to a plural form "Aliha" (gods), or a feminine form "Ilaha" (goddess), the word "Allah" has neither a sex nor does it have a plural form. In fact there are no other forms of the word "Allah". The word itself is unique.
Furthermore, "Allah" is the amalgamation of two words: "al-Ilah" or The God, indicating an unambiguous and clear reference to the one and only God.
Other than the implications of the word "Allah", the first verse goes on to re-emphasize the uniqueness of God by declaring Him to be one.
In Islam this oneness of God or monotheism is absolutely unequivocal as it is fundamental.
The verses that follow go on to outline the exclusive and absolutely unique nature of God by declaring that only He is independent of all things (verse 2), He does not beget nor is He begotten (verse 3) and that there is none like Him (verse 4).
Although Islam may share the concept of monotheism with other religions, it is its unmoving and uncompromising attitude towards this fundamental belief that sets it apart from the other faiths.
For instance, although Christians testify to the oneness of God, the concept is muddled by the trinity and the belief that Jesus is the Son of God whereas Islam rejects the worship of God in the form of any of his creations, be they men or women, animals, images or inanimate objects even if they are perceived to be intermediaries.
Human characteristics such as the need to rest or regretting decisions when attributed to God are also dismissed in Islam since they liken Him to His creation, thus contradicting the 4th verse translated above.
Conversely, attributing characteristics that are inherently exclusive to God such as all-Knowing and all-Seeing or infallibility to humans is also veering off away from the true understanding of God in Islam.
In conclusion, Islam's unique view of God lies in its pure and absolute monotheism or the oneness of God.
Question from the audience: What is the view of Islam about Jesus? Speaker: Jesus as seen as another prophet who brought the same message as those prophets and messengers before him and those after him: to submit to the will of God.
Question from the audience: What is the difference between meditation and prayer in Islam? Speaker: Prayer in Islam is a form of meditation but with limits. Prayer or meditation should not be so consuming as to isolate a person from the world in which they live.
Question from the audience: Can those who do not speak Arabic, do their daily prayers in their own language? Speaker: It is required by all Muslims to know their prayers in Arabic since the original revelation was in Arabic and a Muslim is expected to know at least the portions that pertain to their prayer. Furthermore by having all Muslims, irrespective of where they are from and what language they can speak, call to prayer in Arabic and perform their prayer in Arabic, it makes it convenient for traveling Muslims to pray together and understand the calls to prayer in foreign lands.
Question from the audience: Is it permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad? Speaker: In a hadith reported from the Prophet, it is said that any addition to religion after him are innovations and unacceptable. Hence, it is not permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad as a part of the Islamic religion.
7 Reasons to Read the Glorious Quran
By: Shabir Ali
(1) Intimate:
It dares you to disprove it. How? It says that humans can not write a book like this even if they pooled all their resources together and got help also from the spirits. The Quran said this fourteen hundreds years ago and yet no one has been able to disprove it. Billions of books have been written - but not another one like the Quran.
(2) Incorruptible:
It is the only religious sacred writing which has been in circulation for such a long time and yet remains as pure as it was in the beginning. The Quran was kept intact. Nothing was added to it; nothing was changed in it; and nothing was taken away from it ever since it was completely revealed 1400 years ago.
(3) Unsurpassable:
The Quran is God's final revelation to humankind. God revealed the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Gospel to Jesus, and finally the Quran to Muhammad. Peace be upon all of them. No other book will come from God to surpass his final revelation.
(4) Indisputable:
The Quran withstands the test of time and scrutiny. No one can dispute the truth of this book. It speaks about past history and turns out right. It speaks about the future in prophecies and it turns out right. It mentions details of physical phenomena which were not known to people at the time; yet later scientific discoveries confirm that the Quran was right all along. Every other book needs to be revised to accord with modern knowledge. The Quran alone is never contradicted by a modern discovery.
(5) Your Roadmap for Life and Afterlife:
The Quran is the best guidebook on how to structure your life. No other book presents such a comprehensive system involving all aspects of human life and endeavor. The Quran also points out the way to secure everlasting happiness in the afterlife. It is your roadmap showing how to get to paradise.
(6) God's Gift of Guidance:
God has not left you alone. You were made for a reason. God tells you why he made you, what he demands from you, and what he has in store for you. If you operate a machine contrary to it's manufacture specification you will ruin that machine. What about you? Do you have an owner's manual for you? The Quran is from your function for success lest you fail to function. It is a healing mercy from God. It satisfies the soul, and cleans the heart. It removes doubts and brings peace.
(7) Your Calling Card to Communicate with God:
Humans are social creatures. We love to communicate with other intelligent life. The Quran tells us how to communicate with the source of all intelligence and the source of all life- the One God. The Quran tells us who God is, by what name we should address God, and the way in which to communicate with God. Are these not seven sufficient reasons for reading the Quran?
Is there a Creator ?!
We will answer by quoting a number of aayaat (verses) from the Book of Allaah (the Qur’aan – the scripture of Islam), then you can think to yourself about the matter and if the truth becomes clear to you, you will have no choice but to follow it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“We created you, then why do you believe not?
Then tell Me (about) the human semen that you emit.Is it you who create it (i.e., make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?
We have decreed death unto you all, and We are not unable,To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.
And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e., the creation of Adam). Why then do you not remember or take heed?
Tell Me! The seed that you sow in the ground.Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?
Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment),(Saying), ‘We are indeed Mughramoon (i.e., ruined, or lost the money without any profit, or punished by the loss of all that we spent for cultivation, etc.)!‘Nay, but we are deprived!’Tell Me! The water that you drink,Is it you who cause it from the rainclouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable). Why then do you not give thanks (to Allaah)?
Tell Me! The fire which you kindle,Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are
We the Grower?We have made it a Reminder (for the Hell-fire, in the Hereafter); and an article of use for the travellers (and all others, in this world).
The glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
So I swear by mawaaqi’ (setting to the mansions, etc.) of the stars (they traverse),And verily, that is indeed a great oath, if you but knew,That (this) is indeed an honourable recital (the Noble Qur’aan).” [Quran 56:57-77]
Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm Belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord? Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?” [Quran 52:35-37]
“Verily, the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allaah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed aayaat (proofs, evidences, signs) for people of understanding.” [Quran 2:164]
“It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth green stalks, from which We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the date-palm and its spathe come forth clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof. Verily! In these things there are signs for people who believe.” [Quran 6:99]
“And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain), till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water (rain) to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember or take heed.” [Quran 7:57]
“Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any god with Allaah? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!” [Quran 27:60]
“He has created the heavens and the earth without any pillars that you see, and has set on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with you. And He has scattered therein moving (living) creatures of all kinds. And We send down water (rain) from the sky, and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.” [Quran 31:10]
And the two seas (kinds of water) are not alike, this fresh, sweet and pleasant to drink, and that saltish and bitter. And from them both you eat fresh tender meat (fish), and derive the ornaments that you wear. And you see the ships cleaving (the sea-water as they sail through it), that you may seek of His Bounty, and that you may give thanks.” [Quran 35:12]
And it is He Who has let free the two seas (kinds of water), one palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter, and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.” [Quran 25:53]
This is a selection of clear aayaat that include the answer to your question. We invite you to join the community of the believers and to enter the religion of Islam which Allaah has chosen as the religion for all mankind. Peace be upon those who follow true Guidance.
Islam and crime
Crime in its different forms – organized crime, street crime, State crime, social crime – is considered as a major threat to peace and security in our world. A detailed discussion of the magnitude of the problem of crime as a universal catastrophe is beyond the scope of this study.
One violent crime every 27 seconds
One murder every 24 minutes
One forcible rape every 7 minutes
One robbery every 68 seconds
One property crime every 3 seconds
One burglary every 10 seconds
One larceny /theft every 5 seconds
One motor vehicle theft every 29 seconds
Note: Most of the statistical data collected are about Western societies that are due to the availability of documentation on the matter. We realize that crime is prevalent in all societies -- Eastern and Western alike. The main thrust of our topic is that adopting the Islamic solution is more fruitful than man-made solutions.
Summarized From: The Universality of Islam by Dr. Abdullah Al-Kahtany
Monday, September 3, 2007
The evolutionist’s myth of homology
Structural similarities between different species are called “homology” in biology. Evolutionists try to present those similarities as evidence for evolution.
Darwin thought that creatures with similar (homologue) organs had an evolutionary relation with each other and that these organs must have been inherited from a common ancestor. According to his assumption, both pigeons and eagles had wings; therefore, pigeons, eagles and indeed all other birds with wings were supposed to have evolved from a common ancestor.
Homology is a deceptive argument advanced on the basis of no other evidence than an apparent physical resemblance। This argument has never once been verified by a single concrete discovery in all the years since Darwin’s day. In no layer of the earth has anyone come up with a fossil of the imaginary common ancestor of the creatures with homologue structures. Furthermore, the following issues make it clear that homology provides no evidence that evolution has occurred.
- One finds homologue organs in creatures of completely different species among which evolutionists have not been able to establish any sort of an evolutionary relationship;
- The genetic codes of some creatures that have homologue organs are utterly different from one another।
- The embryological development of homologue organs in different creatures is completely different।
Let us now examine each of these points one by one।
Similar Organs in Entirely Different Living Species
There are a number of homologue organs shared by different species among which evolutionists cannot establish any kind of evolutionary relationship. Wings are an example. In addition to birds, we find wings on bats (which are mammals), on insects and even on some dinosaurs, which are extinct reptiles. Not even evolutionists posit an evolutionary relationship or kinship among those four different classes of animal.
Another striking example is the amazing resemblance and structural similarity observed in the eyes of different creatures. For example, octopus and man are two extremely different species between which no evolutionary relationship is likely even to be proposed, yet the eyes of both are very much alike in terms of their structure and function. Not even evolutionists claim that man and octopus had a common ancestor to account for their similar eyes. These and numerous other examples confirm that the evolutionist claim that “homologue organs prove that living species have evolved from a common ancestor” has no scientific basis.
In fact, homologue organs should be a great embarrassment for evolutionists. The famous evolutionist Frank Salisbury’s confession revealed in his statements on how extremely different species came to have very similar eyes underscores the impasse of homology: “Even something as complex as the eye has appeared several times; for example in the squid, the vertebrates and the arthropods. It’s bad enough accounting for the origin of such things once, but the thought of producing them several times according to the modern synthetic theory makes my head swim.”
The Genetic and Embryological Impasse of Homology
In order for the evolutionist claim concerning “homology” to be taken seriously, similar (homologue) organs in different creatures should also be coded with similar (homologue) DNA codes। However, they are not। In most cases the genetic coding is quite different. Furthermore, similar genetic codes in the DNAs of different creatures are often associated with completely different organs.
Michael Denton, an Australian professor of biochemistry, describes in his book Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, The Genetic Impasse of the Evolutionist Interpretation of Homology: “Homologous structures are often specified by non-homologous genetic systems and the concept of homology can seldom be extended back into embryology.”
Another point is that in order for the homology claim to be considered valid, the embryological development (developmental stages in the egg or mother’s womb) of the species with homologous organs should parallel one another. In fact, the embryological development of such organs is completely different in every living species.
To conclude, we can say that genetic and embryological research has proven that the concept of homology, defined by Darwin as “evidence of the evolution of living things from a common ancestor”, can by no means be regarded as any evidence at all. In this respect, science can be said to have proven the Darwinist thesis false time and time again.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
The world of Islam
A fifth of humankind follows Islam, the fastest growing and perhaps most misunderstood religion on earth. Faced with a secular modern world, Muslims are turning anew to the roots of their faith.Borne aloft five times a day, from Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Timbuktu, Islam's call to prayer stirs the soul of devout Muslims everywhere.
Whether cast from metal loudspeakers over teeming city streets or lifted as the murmured song of camel drivers kneeling in the sand, it begins with the same Arabic phrase Muslims have used for nearly 1400 years, Islam's melodic paean to the Creator: "Allaahu Akbar -- God is Great."
Some 1.3 billion human beings -- one person in five -- heed Islam's call in the modern world, embracing the religion at a rate that makes it the fastest growing on Earth, with 80 percent of believers now outside the Arab world.
The term Islam, is an Arabic word meaning "submission to God," with its etymological roots firmly planted in "salaam", or peace.
Muslims revere all Prophets of God, including Moses and Jesus, may Allaah exalt their mention, and regard the books revealed to these prophets – Torah and Injeel -- as an integral part of their tradition.
They disagree with Christians about the divinity of Jesus but honor him as an especially esteemed Messenger from God.
The ultimate Messenger for Muslims is the Prophet Muhammad .Born about 570 CE at Makkah, Muhammad , was an orphan raised by his grandfather and uncle. He grew up to be a modest and respected businessman who rejected the widespread polytheism of his day and turned to the One God. At about age 40, Muhammad , retreated to a cave in the mountains outside Makkah to meditate. There, he was visited by the archangel Gabriel, who began reciting to him the Word of God. Until his death 23 years later, Muhammad , passed along these revelations to a growing band of followers, including many who wrote down the words or committed them to memory.
These verses became the Quran, or "recitation," the literal Word of God and confirmation of the real Jewish and Christian Scriptures. The Quran consists of 114 chapters, and covers everything from the nature of God (Compassionate and Merciful) to laws governing the mundane affairs of men. Among its commands are (what mean): "Do not usurp one another's property by unjust means" and "Do not kill anyone which God has forbidden." The Quran is also a source of the pure Arabic language memorized by Muslim school children and recited by Muslim adults on every important occasion.One of the five pillars of Islam, along with the two testimonies of faith (Shahaadah), prayer (Salaah), fasting the month of Ramadhaan (Sawm), charity (Zakaah), the pilgrimage (Hajj) is required of all who can manage it at least once in a lifetime.
By the time the Prophet , passed away in 632 CE, Islam was established throughout the Arabian Peninsula, bringing peace and unity to the tribes for the first time in memory.
Within a century of his death the armies of Islam, empowered by faith, had conquered a vast swathe of territory -- stretching from India to the Atlantic coasts of Spain and Portugal, including North Africa and the Middle East.
This Islamic world built on the intellectual achievements of other civilizations, sponsoring an explosion of learning unparalleled until the Renaissance. At a time when Europe was languishing in the early Middle Ages, Muslim scholars and thinkers were giving the world a great center of Islamic learning (Al-Azhar in Cairo) and refining everything -- from architecture to the use of numbers.
At the same time, seagoing Muslim traders were spreading the faith to southern Asia, China and the east coast of Africa. Flourishing by the end of the first millennium, the realm of Islam was tested as western Europe, spurred by its contact with the Islamic near East, awoke and lashed out, launching a series of armed Crusades to wrest Jerusalem from Muslim control.Though fragmented and initially overcome, Muslims rallied to ultimately defeat the invading Christian armies, whose blood-soaked legacy -- the indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent Muslim and Christian Arabs, and the Jews of Jerusalem -- lives on in the minds of people to this day. As Europe rose to glory during the Renaissance and beyond, the Islamic world continued to thrive after the creation of the Ottoman Empire in the late 1200s CE.
This powerful state fell at the end of World War I, resulting in the subdivision of its mostly Muslim lands into the Middle Eastern countries we know today.
Although a few Muslim nations are wealthy from oil resources, most are poor and increasingly demoralized by their position in the world. Disaffected and disenfranchised, many people in these societies are turning to Islam to assert their identity and reclaim power over their own lives.
In addition many Muslims, especially in the Arab world, are angry at the United States’ continued support of Israel, the war and the economic sanctions against ‘Iraq, which are widely perceived to have hit the people of ‘Iraq -- who are fellow Muslims -- right between the eyes.For most of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, Islam is a way of life, a discipline based on looking at the world through the eyes of faith. "Islam gave me something that was lacking in my life," says Jennifer Calvo of Washington, DC. Calvo is 28 and looks as if she just stepped out of a painting by Botticelli, with aquiline features and striking blue eyes, set off by a white head scarf tucked neatly into her full-length robe.
Calvo was raised Catholic and works as a registered nurse. Two years ago, as people have done for 1,400 years, Jennifer became a Muslim by simply declaring the words: "Laa ilaaha illallaah, Muhammad Rasoolullaah” (There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allaah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger)." "Everything is so much simpler now," she said. "It's just me and God. For the first time in my life I'm at peace." For Calvo and most Muslims on Earth, that is what Islam's call to prayer represents. Kneeling to God five times a day, in unison, facing Makkah from wherever they happen to be, they find peace in an act of surrender.
About Me
- Ahmad Azizieh
- So, who am I? This is a tricky question to answer as I’m not always entirely sure who I am from one moment to the next. In fact, all I'm certain of is that I'm not quite the same person as I was before.
