Author Archives: ashsalman0

Mohammed was Sinful mentions in the QURAN

Posted on by ashsalman0

There are basically two reasons for the rise of this doctrine.

Firstly, the early Muslims soon discovered that the Bible taught plainly that Jesus was the only sinless man that ever lived and, confronted with this evidence, deemed it necessary to invent the fiction that all the prophets — especially Muhammad — were sinless as well. A superiority of Jesus over Muhammad could not be tolerated and, just as miracles were attributed to the figurehead of Islam to give him a status at least equal to that of Jesus, so he was also held to be sinless for the same purpose.

Secondly, the doctrine of revelation in Islam holds that the scriptures were dictated directly to the prophets by the intermediary angel (Gabriel) and it was therefore believed that the prophets must have possessed an impeccable character for, if they could not keep themselves from error in their personal lives, how could they be trusted to communicate God’s revelation without error?

This latter presupposition led perforce to the conclusion that the prophets must have been sinless.”

The Quranic word used in these verses for sin is “dhanb“, or “thanb“, depending on how one transliterates the word.

Both Islam and Christianity teach that Jesus was not a sinner. In the Bible, it is explicitly stated that Jesus had no sin.


THE QURANIC EVIDENCE THAT MUHAMMAD WAS A SINNER

In the night’s stillness, far from the crowd and alone with the thoughts of his heart, a man prays confessing the truth he knows within his soul:

“Oh God, I acknowledge and confess before You, all my sins, please forgive them, as no one can forgive sins except You. Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally, or out of my ignorance, with or without seriousness. Oh God, forgive my sins and my ignorance, forgive my sins of the past and of the future, which I did openly or secretly. Forgive the wrong I have done, jokingly or seriously. I seek Your protection from all the evil I have done. Wash away my sins, and cleanse my heart, from all the sins as a white garment is cleansed from the filth, and let there be long distance between me and my sins, as You made the East and West far from each other.”
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That prayer expressed a heart that understood the depth of sin in its soul. It acknowledges a nature within that is bent towards sin. And it reflects the desire to cleanse that depth of sin. We hear in that prayer a man’s struggle with sin. He asks forgiveness for his past and future sins, because he knows that as a normal man, he is going to sin. It is inevitable. He asks for forgiveness for things he has done intentionally, and unintentionally. He asks forgiveness for mistakes and sins, those done intentionally or unintentionally. He knows that the sins he committed are “evil“, and confesses that to God. He does not make light of his sins. The sins he committed are “filth” in God’s eyes.

That prayer was prayed by Muhammad. It is a synthesis of his personal prayers found in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8: #s 335, 379, 407, and 408.

Muhammad knew clearly he was a sinner; thus he makes his confession public. Over and over again he stated he was a sinner. The Quran he spoke identifies him as a sinner. Yet many Muslims today say that Muhammad was not a sinner.

QUESTION: Muhammad said he was a sinner, why do many Muslims contradict Muhammad and say he is not a sinner?

Before addressing that question, let us examine the later Muslim’s argument that he was not a sinner. And, let us examine Quranic / Hadith evidence that Muhammad was a sinner.

Many Muslims believe that Allah gives a special protection to his prophets from being “sinners“.


The Quran identifies Muhammad as a sinner: 40:55, 48:2, and 47:19 : We should let the Quran interpret itself.

40:55 … So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.

48:1 … Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest

48:2 … so that God may forgive you your past and future sins, and perfect His goodness to you; …
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Below is the Quran 47:19 in five English translations, (NOTE: Muhammad is asking for forgiveness for both himself and his followers).

Sahih International
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.

Muhsin Khan
So know (O Muhammad SAW) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes).

Pickthall
So know (O Muhammad) that there is no Allah save Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy sin and for believing men and believing women. Allah knoweth (both) your place of turmoil and your place of rest.

Shakir
So know that there is no god but Allah, and, ask protection for your fault and for the believing men and the believing women; and Allah knows the place of your returning and the place of your abiding.

Dr. Ghali
So know that there is no god except Allah, and ask forgiveness for your guilty deed, and for the male believers and female believers; and Allah knows your moving about and your lodging.

Yusuf Ali
Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes.


Clearly the Quran identifies Muhammad as a sinner. It is definitely applied to Muhammad. Since some Muslims argue that Muhammad was not a sinner, they have to resort to re-interpreting the Quranic word, “dhanb“. So, what does that word “dhanb” mean in the context of the Quran? We have to address the true meaning of this word — is it “sin“, meaning something that God will judge, or is it “fault” defined as meaning something that is very minor and easily excusable by God?

To understand the context of the word, we should let the context of how the word is used throughout the Quran speak.

I have found the word used about 39 times in the Quran. In some cases it is used without a reference, e.g. 3:31, “Say, “If you love God, follow me. God will love you and forgive your sins…”. We have no reference as to what those “sins” consisted.

However, “dhanb” is used many other times with a contextual reference. I encourage all Muslims to search through their Quran to find an example of Allah lightly treating “dhanb“. Study the Quran to find something contrary to the harsh judgement that Allah proscribes to those who commit of “dhanb“. I have found none.

I present 3 of them because I want to establish exactly the Quran’s severity of this word :

3:11 (Their plight will be) no better than that of the people of Pharaoh and their predecessors: they denied Our Signs and Allah called them to account for their sins. For Allah is strict in punishment.

Allah called Pharaoh’s people to account for their sins, and they were punished for their “dhanb“.

3:16 (Namely) those who say: “Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us then our sins and save us from the agony of the fire.”

Here we see people asking forgiveness for their “dhanb” because without forgiveness of their “dhanb” they will end up in the agony of fire (hell).

5:18 (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: “We are sons of Allah and His beloved.” Say: “Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay ye are but men,- of the men He hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all).”

Here Muhammad is saying that Christians and Jews are being punished by Allah for the “dhanb“. Thus their “dhanb” earns punishment from Allah, not a wink of an eye.


Let’s review. “Dhanb” is translated as sin, crime, & fault. How does Allah deal with people who have committed dhanb? Allah –

And remember, Muhammad committed “dhanb“. Muhammad was told to ask forgiveness for his “dhanb“. And Muhammad taught in the Quran that forgiveness of “dhanb” was required to get into Paradise. Otherwise, a person with unforgiven “dhanb” ends up in hell.


EVIDENCE FROM THE HADITH THAT MUHAMMAD WAS A SINNER :

Earlier I synthesized portions from Muhammad’s prayers, recorded in Bukhari’s Hadith. Here are the four Hadith in full. 

In these prayers, Muhammad uses a different word for sin. Instead of using “dhanb“, he uses the root word “khati’a“.

The Encyclopedia of Islam defines Khati’a as:

“Moral lapse, sin, a synonym of dhanb. The root means “to fail, stumble“, “make a mistake“, “of an archer whose arrow misses the target“.

8.335 : Narrated Shaddad bin ‘Aus: The Prophet said, “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is:

‘Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta. Khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa Wa’dika mastata’tu abu’u Laka bi ni ‘matika wa abu’u Laka bidhanbi; faghfirli fa’innahu la yaghfiru-dh-dhunuba ill a ant a. A’uidhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu.’ If somebody recites this invocation during the night, and if he should die then, he will go to Paradise (or he will be from the people of Paradise). And if he recites it in the morning, and if he should die on the same day, he will have the same fate.”

The Arabic is translated as:

“Oh Allah! You are my Lord. None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me, and I am your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I acknowledge before You , all the blessings You have bestowed upon me and confess to You all my sins, so please forgive them, as no one can forgive sins except You. And I seek refuge in You from all the evil I have done.”

 

8.379 : Narrated ‘Aisha :

The Prophet used to say, “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from laziness and geriatric old age, from all kinds of sins and from being in debt; from the affliction of the Fire and from the punishment of the Fire and from the evil of the affliction of wealth; and I seek refuge with You from the affliction of poverty, and I seek refuge with You from the affliction of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart from all the sins as a white garment is cleansed from the filth, and let there be a long distance between me and my sins, as You made East and West far from each other.”

 

8.407 : Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet used to invoke Allah with the following invocation: ‘Rabbi-ghfir-li Khati ‘ati wa jahli wa israfi fi amri kullihi, wa ma anta a’lamu bihi minni. Allahumma ighfirli khatayaya wa ‘amdi, wa jahli wa jiddi, wa kullu dhalika’indi. Allahumma ighrifli ma qaddamtu wa ma akhartu wa ma asrartu wa ma a’lantu. Anta-l-muqaddimu wa anta-l-mu’akh-khiru, wa anta ‘ala kulli shai’in qadir.’

The Arabic is translated as :

“O my Lord! Forgive my sins and my ignorance and my exceeding the limits of righteousness in all my deeds and what you know better than I. O Allah. Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally or out of my ignorance or without or with seriousness, and I confess that all such mistakes are done by me. O Allah! Forgive my sins of the past and of the future with I did openly or secretly. You are the One Who makes the things go before and You are the One Who delays them, and You are the Omnipotent.”

 

8.408 : Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari: The Prophet used to invoke Allah, saying, “Allahumma ighfirli khati‘ati wa jahli wa israfi fi amri, wa ma anta a-‘lamu bihi minni. Allahumma ighfirli hazali wa jiddi wa khata’i wa amdi, wa kullu dhalika ‘indi.”

The Arabic is translated as :

“O Allah! Forgive my mistakes and my ignorance and my exceeding the limit (boundaries) of righteousness in my deeds; and forgive whatever You know better than I. O Allah! Forgive the wrong I have done jokingly or seriously, and forgive my accidental and intentional errors, all that is present in me.”

Muhammad acknowledged he was a sinner. Don’t Muhammad’s prayers for forgiveness establish the fact that he knew how severe his sins were? He knew Allah punishes sin, and that is why he was always pleading for forgiveness from Allah. Muhammad didn’t want to burn in hell for his crimes.

And, Muhammad did believe and fear he was going to suffer:


Sahih Muslim, [10], Book 4, Number 1212:

Narrated Aisha:

“The Prophet entered my house when a Jewess was with me and she was saying: Do you know that you would be put to trial in the grave? The Messenger of Allah trembled (on hearing this) and said: It is the Jews only who would be put to trial. Aisha said: We passed some nights and then the Messenger of Allah said: Do you know that it has been revealed to me: “You would be put to trial in the grave”? Aisha said: I heard the Messenger of Allah seeking refuge from the torment of the grave after this.”

Allah “revealed” to Muhammad he would be put to trial in the grave. Muhammad constantly prayed for refuge from his upcoming torment. Why?
If Muhammad were so pure and innocent, why would Allah be tormenting him in the grave? Muhammad was aware of his sins, and thus, he prayed for forgiveness.


John 8:32 : “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”


Articles by Silas

Muslims—What does the Qur’an say about Isa (Jesus)?

Posted on by ashsalman0

Over 1400 years ago, Muhammad (Mohammed) was born in Arabia. His father Abdullah was of the tribe of Qureyshi, and died before Muhammad was born.

As a lad, Muhammad traveled to Syria with his uncle on merchant caravans. Years later, he made the same journey while working for a wealthy widow named Khadijah. He later married her and, even though he was 15 years younger than she was, they had a good marriage.

Muhammad soon gained rank among the notables of Mecca. The Meccans claimed to be descendants of Abraham (Ibrahim).

As one who abhorred evil, Muhammad detested those who disobeyed the Scriptures. He was familiar with the teachings of the Jewish and Christian holy book the Bible (perhaps in reading it himself, if he was literate, or in learning of it through oral means via storytelling). He was very upset with the hypocrisy among the people: the idol worship, and anything dishonoring to God was very revolting to Him.

He believed that Allah had revealed the Torah and the gospels (the Injil).
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“ALLAH is HE besides Whom there is none worthy of worship, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. HE has sent down to thee the Book containing the truth and fulfilling that which precedes it; and HE has sent down the Torah (Law of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guidance to the people; and HE has sent down the Discrimination (judgement between right and wrong).”— Qur’an, Surah 3:3-4

One who was greatly respected by Muhammad was Abraham (Ibrahim), whom he called an upright and righteous man.

“Abraham was indeed a paragon of virtue, obedient to ALLAH, ever inclined to HIM, and he was not of those who set up equals with ALLAH; Ever grateful for HIS favors: HE chose him and guided him to a straight path. And WE bestowed on him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous. And now WE have sent revelation to thee, enjoining, ‘Follow the way of Abraham who was ever inclined to ALLAH and was not of those who set up equals to HIM.'”— Qur’an, Surah 16:121-124

Abraham was also looked upon as one who fulfilled God’s commands:

“And remember when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commandments which he fulfilled, HE said, ‘I will make thee a leader of men.’ Abraham asked, ‘And from among my offspring?’ God said, ‘MY covenant does not embrace the transgressors.'”— Qur’an, Surah 2:125

Muhammad also had great understanding of the scriptures and faith in the angels who told Zechariah he would have a son (as in Luke 1:18, 57-60).

“So her Lord accepted her with gracious acceptance and caused her to grow an excellent growth and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the chamber, he found with her provisions. He said, ‘O Mary whence hast thou this ?’ She replied, ‘It is from ALLAH.’ Surely ALLAH gives to whomsoever HE pleases without measure. Qur’an, Surah 3:37

Then and there did Zachariah pray to his Lord, saying, ‘My Lord grant me from Thyself pure offspring; surely thou art the Hearer of Prayer.’

And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the chamber, ‘ALLAH gives thee glad tidings of Yahya, who shall testify to the truth of a word from ALLAH – noble and chaste and a Prophet, from among the righteous’. Quran 3:39

He said ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son, when old age has overtaken me already, and my wife is barren?’ He answered, ‘Such is the way of ALLAH; HE does what HE pleases,’ Quran 3:40

He said ‘My Lord, give me a commandment.’ He replied, ‘The commandment for thee is that thou shalt not speak to men for three days except by signs’. Quran 3:41

‘And remember thy Lord much and glorify HIM in the evening and in the early morning.’ And remember when the angels said, “O MARY” ‘ALLAH has chosen thee and purified thee and chosen thee above all women of the time‘. Quran 3:42

‘O Mary, be obedient to thy Lord and prostrate thyself and worship the one God with those who worship HIM.’ Quran 3:43

‘This is of the tidings of things unseen which WE reveal to thee. And thou was not with them when they cast their arrows, as to which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor was thou with them when they disputed with one another’. Quran 3:44

When the angels said, ‘O Mary, ALLAH gives thee glad tidings of a son through a word from HIM (kalimullah) ; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God’; Quran 2:253

‘And he shall speak to the people in the cradle, and when of middle age, and he shall be of the righteous’. Quran 3:46

Jesus started preaching at age 12, he would preach in the temples, and when Mary and Joseph went looking for him one day, they found him in one of the temples. When Mary said that they were looking for him everywhere, he said “Why are you looking for me everywhere, do you not know that I am in my fathers house?” Bible 2:39-49

She said, ‘My Lord, how shall I have a son, when no man has touched me? He said, ‘Such is the way of ALLAH. HE creates what HE pleases. When HE decrees a thing HE says to it ‘Be,’ and it is;”— Qur’an, Surah 3:47

Muhammad also speaks of the resurrection of Jesus:

“Thereupon she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?’ Jesus said, ‘I am a servant of ALLAH. HE has given me the Book, and has made me a Prophet; ‘And HE has made me blessed where soever I may be, and has enjoined upon me Prayer and almsgiving so long as I live; ‘And HE has made me dutiful towards my mother, and has not made me arrogant and graceless; ‘And peace was on me the day I was born, and peace will be on me the day I shall die, and the day I shall be raised up to life again.’ That was Jesus, son of Mary. This is a statement of the truth concerning which they entertain doubt.”— Qur’an, Surah 19:30-35

In calling Jesus a messenger, Muhammad was also correct. He did not mean that Jesus was not the Messiah. Muhammad knew that one could be a messenger and not be a Messiah… but as The Messiah, one is also a messenger.

Jesus was both a messenger and The Messiah that Allah had promised! What is a Messiah? A Messiah is always known as “a Savior… a liberator and a deliverer.” God had promised to send one (Messiah) to pay the debt of sin for all mankind.

The Messiah!… God’s gift to sinful man… The Savior… The Liberator… Our Redeemer. The prophets of the Torah foretold of His coming. Muhammad and his Disciples revered Him… the Qur’an and the Bible reveal Him! The Messiah… The Savior of the world! Neither the Qur’an nor the Bible speak of any other as being the Messiah!!!

“So peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I get resurrected.” Quran 19:33

“Jesus the sign of Hour :Jesus shall be a Sign for the coming of the Hour of Judgement : Therefore have no doubt about the Hour, but follow Me: this is the Straight Way”. (Quran 43:61)

“Jesus raised to God in the Heavens & Coming of Jesus :Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise”. (Quran 4:158)

“And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in Jesus before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness”. (Quran 4:159)

 

Dear friend, that is the most profound truth! And it is truth that cannot be denied. Jesus is the one and only Messiah. He is the Saviour. He is the Messiah of the Muslims, the Jews, and the Gentiles. Millions throughout the world of every nation and creed accept Him as Saviour.

Many have followed false Messiahs and had their lives ended in death. They were sincere, but they were sincerely wrong. Had they only accepted the indisputable claim that Jesus is the Messiah, they would have found the peace that they were looking for, and the eternal life that God has promised to all who will accept Jesus as Messiah… the Savior of the world.

Yes, Jesus – Messiah loves you! The Messiah that Muhammad wrote about… to forgive you and to be your Savior… your Liberator… your Deliverer from sin.

History tells us that He was crucified and died on a cross.

Ninety percent of the time, my Muslim friends will immediately quote, “They killed him not, they crucified him not, but it was likened unto them [or it appeared into them]. They killed him not knowingly, but God raised him and God is the most merciful of merciful.” (Qur’an, Surah 4:157-158)

In their minds, this verse says that Allah would never have allowed a great prophet like Jesus to be crucified by His enemies.

But does this verse really say that Jesus did not die?
Is that how most Muslim scholars themselves interpret it?
What does, “They killed him not knowingly,” mean?

The fact of the matter is that there are different contradicting interpretations of this verse amongst Muslim scholars. Muslims claim it is from Allah and that it denies the death of Jesus. There are various ways of interpreting Surah 4:157-158.

One of them would be to remember the Jews’ attitude toward Christ. When Jesus was taken to the Roman governor, they did not believe He was the Messiah. They wanted to get rid of Him. By saying,

“They killed him not knowingly,” the Qur’an simply states that they killed Jesus without knowing He was the Messiah. 


History tells us that three days later there was an empty tomb. History, and hundreds of eye witnesses, tell us that He rose from the dead. But sadly many also reject the love and forgiveness God has offered in Jesus.

It is obvious that no one but Jesus could have fulfilled these prophecies. The prophecies absolutely preclude any still future Messiah, except that even that hope also will find its fulfillment in the second coming of Christ.

And then, of course, there are still hundreds of other prophecies, all of which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ:

His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14);
His birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2);
His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53:5);
His crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-18);
His bodily resurrection (Psalm 16:10);  and many others. 

Allah has given you a free will. YOU must make a choice. You cannot be neutral.

Don’t take this writer’s Ash Salman word for it. Investigate for yourself the claims of Muhammad, the prophecies in the Torah, and the life of Jesus written in the Bible. The prophecies that were fulfilled by His birth, life, death and resurrection.

Check out the reasons why Paul, the greatest persecutor of Jesus‘ followers, became such a strong believer in Jesus as the Messiah… and why he became the world’s greatest missionary.

If you are not already a follower of Isah (Jesus), you must make a choice :

(1) to believe that Jesus is the Messiah
or
(2) to reject Him as Saviour.

You can choose to believe the Messiah, Jesus, who said He would, and did, rise from the dead. Allah gave Jesus, born miraculously through Mary (Maryam, Sura 3:45) as Muhammed agreed, to the world… for you.

“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.”— John 3:16

All of these unite in their witness that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31).

(“Son of God” does not mean that God had physical relations with Mary, but rather that God willed it supernaturally that Mary would become the earthly mother of Jesus even as a virgin. See Surah 3:47-48)

https://wiki-islam.org/2014/06/08/the-trinity-in-the-quran/

Jesus loves you. How could anyone want to reject such a wonderful love… reject God’s forgiveness… His promises of eternal life?

The Bible teaches how we can know where we will spend eternity.

What does “You have a good example in the Prophet” mean?

Posted on by ashsalman0

Where is the example of the Prophet? Over the centuries, every aspect of Prophet Muhammad has been turned into an ideal model for every person to follow. But are these aspects, taught as perfect model, really meant to be followed?

Prophet Muhammad was a man as well as a prophet. As a human being he has personal preferences in style, food or leisure activities. He may like to eat fish, his favourite colour may be green, or blue, or red. All these elements are his humanly choices and personal preferences. But what has been done after his dismissal is encapsulation of every element of the human personality of the prophet into a divine model recommended for all human beings to follow.

For example, they teach that when eating food, you should sit on your knees, or with one knee up, because the prophet had sat in that manner. Or when eating you must eat with your right hand because the prophet used his right hand. Even left-handed Muslim children who struggle to eat or perform tasks with right hand are discouraged from accepting how Allah created them (using left hand). There is no understanding in such people that the prophet did so because he simply felt comfortable to eat in that position or may be because he was right-handed and he would use his left hand if he was left-handed.

Just because the prophet’s favourite colour was green, does not mean we must all have our favourite colour green. Just because the prophet liked to eat dates, does not mean anyone who does not like eating dates is less of a Muslim – merely because of his personal food preferences. Just because the prophet wore an Arab dress (as he was born into an Arab family) does not make the Arab dress recommended for all people. Rather Allah celebrates our variations in culture and tradition:

“Among His signs are the creations of the heavens and the Earth, and the differences in your languages and colours. In that are signs for all people“. (Qur’an 30:22)

It is a form of idolising an individual and this happens when love for that being exceeds the love of Allah. In some books, Muslims are even taught to take the prophet’s posture while walking – said to be slightly leant forward manner, and even an order in which to clip finger-nails and toe nails! Did the prophet ever intend on him being followed in this manner?

If circumstantial and personal attributes of the prophet becomes virtuous to be followed, then it would mean all people should stop driving cars, and replace them with camels!

Now, is the message of the prophet in these personal habits and preferences of his, or something greater?

“It is not fitting for any person to whom Allah gives the Book, the wisdom and prophethood, that he should say to people: ‘Be servants to me rather than Allah!’, rather he would say: ‘Be devotees (of Allah) for what you have learnt and studied from the Book’.” (Qur’an 3:79)

Notice how in the verse, the understanding of true faith is shown to come from the Book of Allah, and the prophet would say, ‘be devoted to Allah because of what you studied in His Book (Qur’an)’. So, we must comprehend what faith really means from the Qur’an.

 

The Verse “You have a good example in the Prophet”

The following verse is used by traditional followers who commit such idolising of the prophet, in justifying what they do:

“Indeed, in the messenger of Allah a ‘good example (uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة)‘ has been set for the one who seeks Allah and the Last Day and thinks constantly about Allah.” (Qur’an 33:21)

The Arabic (uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة) is important to bear in mind. Instead of his ‘good example’ being in his choice of favourite colour, favourite food, the way he felt like sitting – the prophetic ‘good example‘ was in his faith. Prophet Muhammad relied on Allah  (God)at all times, and passed all the trials and tribulations he faced without ever loosing faith in Allah. His patience in overcoming difficult times and encouraging others to do the same, Loving Allah as well as upholding the Qur’an at all times. Basically, everything which makes a great believer to Allah is what made the prophet a ‘good example‘, (uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة). Personal traits are what everyone will have and they vary with worldly variables – everyone is entitled to have their own likes and habits, and they should be appreciated as what makes each of us unique.

The above mentioned qualities are what we ‘strive’ to earn and which makes us special to God – and which are what made the prophet special.

Now we refer the Arabic phrase (uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة), meaning ‘good example‘ to another place in the Qur’an. We discover that the understanding we stated above is the correct one. The identical phrase has been used in the following verse to describe Prophet Ibrahim:

“There has been a good example (uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة)  set for you by Ibrahim and those with him…” (Qur’an 60:4)

Since Prophet Ibrahim was the same “uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة”, and it does not mean his habits and personal attributes – rather his faith, we thus see that indeed we have the correct understanding of “uswatun hasana / أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة” as applicable to Prophet Muhammad, since the same words are used to describe both of them.

The common definitions and ideas of how to be a good Muslim really trivialises the true religion. It drifts people away from the the real prophetic and Quranic message of what it means to be a true believer – that is to submit to Allah and understand His true greatness while comprehending the Qur’an. Engrossed in worrying about changing personal habits and lifestyles, individuals loose the vision and wisdom needed to read and understand the Qur’an and becoming submitted servants to God (Allah). Religion becomes a way of nostalgic living rather than based on awe of God or the Qur’an.  

To conclude, the prophet’s good example was in his unwavering faith in Allah, his adherence to the righteous path shown by the Qur’an – “I only follow what is revealed to me” (6:50), his wisdom in preaching the message of God, forgiveness, mercy and all attributes of a true believer as taught by the Holy Scriptures – it is not in his humanly preferences and habits, rather in his believer attributes.

See also :

“Take what the Messenger Gives You and Abstain from what he Forbids you”
“”Obey God and obey the Messenger””
“”Mercy to Mankind””

The Character of God

Posted on by ashsalman0

When we talk about the character of God, what we are really saying is “What is he like?”. The word ‘character’ describes how someone acts and reacts and so reveals what they are like ‘inside’. In books and plays the people describes are called ‘characters’ because we want to know what they will do and why – its all about what they are like on the inside coming out to affect what they do and say on the outside.

So how do we know what someone’s character is like? Obviously the best way is to get to know the person themselves, by spending time with them and getting to know what makes them tick. Many of the people in this room are good friends with God and know what He is like through long personal experience. But lets for a moment assume that we are unable to do that for some reason – how then could we find out what God is like?

Firstly, in order to get to know someone’s character, we can look at how they act, look at what they actually do. For example, at geek cell we play a tabletop wargame that is meant to promote and So what about God reward teamwork. Instead, nearly all of our players spend most of the game trying to stitch each other up, which is why they die so often – someone watching could perhaps watch how the players act and draw some fairly good conclusions about what each of the players are like, and what they believe and think about life, and about people, and about fairness or right and wrong and all sorts of things – in short, your actions reveal your character. ?

What can we say about someone who created this?:

Perhaps that they are powerful, creative, that they love beauty and energy, order and chaos, that they are complex and beyond understanding?

How else can we know of someone’s character?

This pretty much sums up what the entire Scriptures has to say about God :

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent Prophet’s and Jesus Christ into the world that we might live through them.  This is love: he loved us and sent Prophet’s & Messengers to put right everything that is broken about us.

Dear friends, because God loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, we show each other what God is like.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, proves that they do not love God, whom they have not seen, because this is what God says that He wants: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Ok, so in the Scriptures there is another way we can know what God is like. When we say someone has a good name, what we really mean is that they have a good reputation. But in the Scriptures this is taken literally – peoples names meant something, and their name could and would be changed by their friends, families or teachers to something more appropriate if it turned out that their name didn’t match their character.

In the Bible Old Testament alone God has 144 different names in Hebrew & in the Quran he has 99 names, they all explain what he is like.

 

Biblical Names of God :

Advocate – 1 John 2:1
Almighty – Revelation 1:8
Alpha – Revelation 1:8
Amen – Revelation 3:14
Angel of the Lord – Genesis 16:7
Anointed One – Psalm 2:2
Apostle – Hebrews 3:1
Author and Perfecter of our Faith – Hebrews 12:2

Quranic names of God :

The Most Compassionate (Al-Rehman)
The Most Merciful (Al-Rahim)
The Most High (al-Ala)
The Most Glorious (al-ʻAziz)
The Ever Forgiving (al-Ghaffār)
The Ever Providing (ar-Razzāq)
The Ever Living (al-Ḥayy)
The Self-Subsisting by Whom all Subsist (al-Qayyūm)
The Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds (Rabb al-ʻĀlamīn)
The Ultimate Truth (al-Ḥaqq)
The Eternal Lord (al-Bāqī)
The Sustainer (al-Muqsith)
The Source of Peace (As-Salām)

 

What is God like? He saves. If you remember nothing else from tonight, remember that – He saves us in every way it is possible to be saved. And that is the good news of the Bible & Quran – God is here, God is great, God wishes good to us, and most of all, he acts to bring that good about for us. He saves.

We cannot be God, But we can strive to be like him in Grace, Wisdom, Inspiration & Attributes of God builds this whole “Character” in a person.

God bless you all & peace be with you.

Aslo see :

“”Control of Anger””

Jesus is the most Exalted of all or is it Mohammed

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Muslims, and certain Islamic narrations, claim that Muhammad is the most exalted of all of Allah’s creatures. They believe that Allah has preferred Muhammad to the rest of the prophets and messengers.

However, the Quran does not substantiate this assertion since there is someone else who is presented as being more exalted than Muhammad. In fact, this someone else is presented as superior to all other prophets according to the Quran.

For instance, when the Quran mentions that Allah has preferred some apostles above certain others it specifically mentions Jesus and David:

Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them God spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If God had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If God had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but God Fulfilleth His plan. S. 2:253 Y. Ali

And it is your Lord that knoweth best all beings that are in the heavens and on earth: We did bestow on some prophets more (and other) gifts than on others: and We gave to David (the gift of) the Psalms. S. 17:55 Y. Ali

Notice that Muhammad is not mentioned by name in either one of the citations. We shall see that it is not a coincidence that Jesus and David are mentioned instead.

This next text supposedly quotes David and Solomon as saying:

And We gave David and Solomon knowledge and they said, ‘Praise belongs to God who has preferred us over many of His believing servants.’ S. 27:15 Arberry

Thus, Allah has preferred David and Solomon above many of his servants. As anyone reading the NT already knows, Jesus is a descendant of David:

“the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh” Romans 1:3

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel,” 2 Timothy 2:8

By stating that Allah exalted David, the Quran is basically agreeing that God chose Jesus’ ancestors above all the rest, a point confirmed by this next text:

Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of ‘Imran above (all His) creatures. They were descendants one of another. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower! And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female – Allah knew best of what she was delivered – the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary, and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast. S. 3:33-36 Pickthall

The family of Imran whom Allah chose above all creatures is supposed to be the family of Jesus, specifically his mother’s parents. The Quran even identifies Mary as Imran’s daughter:

And Mary the daughter of ‘Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants). S. 66:12 Y. Ali

Moreover, Islamic traditions state that Allah answered the prayer of Jesus’ grandmother by making him and his mother the only ones whom Satan was unable to touch upon their births:

Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab:

Abu Huraira said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘There is none born among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, EXCEPT MARY AND HER CHILD.” Then Abu Huraira recited: “And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan” (3.36) (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 641; see also Volume 4, Book 54, Number 506)

But the Quran doesn’t stop there since it goes on to say that Jesus’ blessed mother is the most exalted of all women:

And when the angels said, ‘Mary, God has chosen thee, and purified thee; He has chosen thee above all women. S. 3:42 Arberry

In the same Sura, Jesus is shown to have qualities and titles that no one else has such as being the only person called God’s Word (Kalimatin) and honoured in the next life:

“Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God; He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is! And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): ‘I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God’s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe; (I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me. It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.’” 3:45-51 Y. Ali

Here is what we have thus far gathered from the teaching of the Quran:

•Allah has preferred some messengers above others.
•David and Solomon are some of those messengers that Allah has chosen above the rest.
•David is Jesus’ ancestor.
•Allah has chosen Imran’s family above all creatures.
•Imran is said to be Mary’s father, Jesus’ grandfather.
•Allah has chosen Jesus’ mother Mary above all women.
•Jesus is the only person explicitly said to be honored in the next world.
•Jesus is given specific attributes and titles that are not given to any other messenger.

What this all means is that it is not Muhammad that is the most exalted creature of all according to the Quran. Rather, Jesus is the one messenger, the one person, whom Allah has preferred and exalted above all the others. Allah has conferred upon Christ and his family an honor that has not been given to anyone else.

We aren’t the only ones seeing it this way since there is one moderate Muslim writer who candidly admits that, according to the Quran, Jesus is the greatest of all prophets.

Dr. Nader Pourhassan, after citing surah’s 2:253, 3:42–46, and 59, says that:

Muslim religious leaders try to isolate Muhammad from all other prophets by saying, “God kept the best for last.” Again, this directly contradicts the Quran’s teachings. The Quran says that some prophets have been given more than others – that some even talk to God. The example it gives is that of Jesus Christ, not Muhammad…

These passages clearly show that God considered Jesus to be His best prophet, not Muhammad. After all, Jesus revealed himself to be a prophet from childhood, while Muhammad was not inspired until he was forty years old.

The Quran relates a number of miracles from Jesus‘ childhood, but says nothing of this phase of Muhammad’s life. The name “Christ” is also used. Unlike Jesus, Muhammad was not a special messenger of God, but a mere helper, who brought justice to the world, and glorified the name of Jesus by setting the record straight about his deeds on earth. His mission was also to eliminate the corruption of the message of those prophets who had gone before him. On the other hand, of Jesus it is said that he was created in a similar way to Adam…

Quran teaches that Jesus was God’s best prophet, and that Believers of Jesus Christ will be placed above non-believers until the Day of Judgment

Muslim religious leaders claim that Muhammad was the greatest prophet ever sent. If this was true, then God would have stated so in the Quran. Instead, when God talks of a prophet being greater than others, the name He mentions is that of Jesus. 

In a moment of passion the people loved this God, loved Jesus, not for the promise of power, but in response to the great outpouring of his life and ministry, in response to healing and justice, forgiveness and touch, sharing and vision, the outpouring of life even in the midst of death.

 

I couldn’t have put it any better!

See also :

“”You have a good example in the Prophet””
“Take what the Messenger Gives You and Abstain from what he Forbids you”
“”Obey God and obey the Messenger””
“”Mercy to Mankind””

 

Did Jesus abolish the Law or not?

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Matthew 5:17-19 and Ephesians 2:14-15

No. (Matt. 5:17), “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

(Matt. 18) “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

(Matt. 19) “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Yes. (Eph. 2:14-15), “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace.”

In Matthew 5:17-19  Jesus is speaking about the Old Testament principles and authority of rule and revelation. When Jesus said that He came to fulfill the law, He came to establish it and demonstrate how it pointed to Him and how He would live it perfectly.

Some mistakenly think that this statement addresses whether believers should still keep the law and spend many hours arguing about what ‘fulfill‘ means, when it should be obvious to all of us what that word means.

So we need to understand that, in verse 17, Jesus is talking about the validity of the Hebrew Scriptures – He is not talking about obedience among the faithful! Failure to understand this point has caused much confusion. Like some believer i know called Jimmy, Reza & Ikram.

In Eph. 2:14-15, Paul is speaking about how the gentiles who were called the uncircumcised :

(v. 11), Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

were separated from Christ

(v. 12) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope

Jesus removed the requirement of having to follow the Law in order to please God, established justification by faith, and thereby united both Jew and Gentile into one group in Christ.

(v. 13) But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

This is when Paul says in verse 15 that he abolished in his flesh the enmity which is the law of commandments in ordinances. The Law was that which separated Jew from Gentile and since it has been fulfilled in Christ, it is no longer something that would separate Jew and Gentile.

(v. 15)  He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

As we can see, some commands are temporary and only for a certain time. This is also true for the Old Testament laws, many of the Old Testament laws are given new meaning in the New Testament.

Jesus initially tells His listeners, and you and I today, that, despite everything, the Old Testament must continue to be considered as ‘Holy Writ‘. Indeed He Himself would fulfil numerous things written therein. Jesus was concerned that we should all continue to learn about, and to be inspired, by people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and the Prophets – indeed so many things in the Old Testament continually point to Jesus. So the Old Covenant might be dead, but the Old Testament must not be put aside.

In that instance, Gentiles becomes a reference to pagan cultures of the period.

Standards which we must aim for are above and beyond the ten ‘do’s‘ and ‘don’ts‘ of those commands. The new righteousness which we start to find in our lives is truly not ours but Christ’s as the Holy Spirit (Ruhu Al-qadoos) gradually starts to refashion us – this is sanctification. If God (Allah) were to remove His bounteous grace from us, we would fall again instantly!

Why Did Jesus Say to Pluck Out Our Eye If It Offends

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Us (Matthew 5:27-30)?

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Christ does not intend for us to take this instruction literally. Jesus does not want sinners to become physically handicapped. Because sin begins in the mind, the eye, the hand, or the foot cannot sin of and by themselves. Even without these body parts, a person can still sin.

Our Savior often employs figures of speech in His preaching. Here, He is simply using parts of the body to elucidate an important principle—that a believer should not tolerate sin in his life. Once a sin becomes apparent, we should take immediate steps to eliminate it from our lives. By using the striking example of amputation, Christ also illustrates that the process of overcoming sin may be as painful as losing an arm, a leg, or an eye. Ultimately, it is far better to give up a sinful pleasure than to lose out on salvation (Hebrews 11:23-26).

The apostle Paul expands Jesus’ instruction in Colossians 3:1-17.

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

“Take what the Messenger Gives You and Abstain from what he Forbids you”

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This is a small part of a whole verse quoted in isolation, out of context. The verse in full form is in the context of a war and reads:

“Whatever gains Allah has turned over to His messenger from the inhabitants of the villages belong to Allah, the messenger, kinsfolk, orphans, the needy, and the traveller. This is explained so that you do not just circulate it among those of you who are rich, take what the messenger gives you and abstain from what he forbids you. Be mindful of Allah, Allah is severe in punishment.” (Qur’an 59:7)

It is clear that the portion:

“take what the messenger gives you and abstain from what he forbids you.”

is referring to the booty of war recovered which the messenger will distribute to those in need.

People take this portion of the verse and quote that part only, out of context, in an attempt to deceive people that the messenger has forbidden more things not found in the Qur’an.

Allah says the following with regards to these sorts who take portions of Allah’s verses, then deliberately hide or twist their meanings for vain gains:

“Among them is a group who distort the Book with their tongues so that you think it is from the Book when it is not from the Book. They say, ‘it is from Allah’, but it is not from Allah. They tell a lie against Allah and they know it.” (Qur’an 3:78)

Even if one were to follow along with their misunderstanding that this part is referring to absolutely everything the messenger forbade and permitted, then the “messenger” does not forbid or command anything other than what is found in his “message“, the Qur’an, and what is against the Qur’an is against the messenger:

“Messenger (رسول / Rasul)! Proclaim everything that has been sent down to you from your Lord – if you do not, then you will not have communicated His message (رسالة / Risala) ” (Qur’an 7:2)

“This [Qur’an] is sent down from the Lord of all the worlds. If [the Prophet] had said anything against Us, We would certainly have seized his right hand and cut off his artery, and none of you could have defended him.” (Qur’an 69:43-47)

The occasion when the Prophet forbade himself or someone something outside of the Qur’an is also reprimanded:

“Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful to you, in your desire to please your wives? Yet, Allah is forgiving and merciful…” (Qur’an 66:1)

Ramadan – Fasting Allow of Water

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Types of Fasting in the Quran :

Food Fasting (Sawm ut Taam).
Money Fasting (Sawm ul Maal).
Word Fasting (Sawm ul Kalam).

Usually “Fasting“ means Food Fasting

Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

Why Your Body Needs Water

You must have water in your diet. It is brimming with minerals and electrolytes, and you can’t live without it. Water is a solvent. It dissolves other substances and carries nutrients and other material (such as blood cells) around the body, making it possible for every organ to do its job.

A healthy body has just the right amount of fluid inside and outside each cell, a situation medical folk call fluid balance. Maintaining your fluid balance is essential to life. If too little water is inside a cell, it shrivels and dies. If there’s too much water, the cell bursts.

Your body is mostly (50 to 70 percent) water.

You need water to.

Digest food, dissolving nutrients so that they can pass through the intestinal cell walls into your bloodstream, and move food along through your intestinal tract.

Carry waste products out of your body.

Provide a medium in which biochemical reactions such as metabolism (digesting food, producing energy, and building tissue) occur.

Send electrical messages between cells so that your muscles can move, your eyes can see, your brain can think, and so on.

Regulate body temperature — cooling your body with moisture (perspiration) that evaporates on your skin.

Lubricate your moving parts.

As much as three-quarters of the water in your body is in intracellular fluid, the liquid inside body cells. The rest is in extracellular fluid, which is all the other body liquids, such as

Interstitial fluid (the fluid between cells)

Blood plasma (the clear liquid in blood)

Lymph (a clear, slightly yellow fluid collected from body tissues that flows through your lymph nodes and eventually into your blood vessels)

Bodily secretions such as sweat, seminal fluid, and vaginal fluids

Urine

Forming the link to life


All three phases of water – solid, liquid, and gas – form vital links to life. Liquid water accounts for two-thirds of our body weight. To stay healthy, we need about one litre (about one quarter) of water each day. Water helps blood and its components transport oxygen and nutrients and remove waste products through our circulatory system. Each time we exhale, water vapor leaves our bodies.


Water is  ALLOWABLE during Ramadan?

Food Fasting (Sawm ut Taam).

Usually “Fasting“ means Food Fasting

Sawm also carries a significant spiritual meaning. It teaches one the principle of love+: because when one observes fasting, it is done out of deep love for God and to learn self-restraint.

here’s why:?

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind,
also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one
of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if
any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later.
Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties.(He wants you)
to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you;
and perchance ye shall be grateful. Quran 2:185

2:286 God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear:
in his favour shall be whatever good he does, and against him whatever evil he does. O our
Sustainer! Take us not to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong! “O our Sustainer!
Lay not upon us a burden such as Thou didst lay upon those who lived before us!

2:278 O our Sustainer! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear!
“And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Thy mercy upon us!
Thou art our Lord Supreme: succour us, then, against people who deny the truth!
I know 99.9% of Muslims will disagree with me.

Ramadan is all about abstaining from DESIRES: water is not a DESIRE.

Food, nourishing drinks such as juices, soups, alcohol (for those believers who choose to drink), sex, smoking…..ALL DESIRES.

Ones that can lead to uncontrollable and perhaps gluttonous behavior.
WATER — NOT A DESIRE…but instead it is a NEED very much as AIR a need.
You do not crave water. You do not overindulge in water.

Even in the poorest of societies…WATER IS AVAILABLE…perhaps not always clean drinking water but it is available.

The number 1 need human beings require for survival is AIR..the number 2 is Water.

Unfortunately most of us Muslims are more apt to follow rigid rules and are less likely to question them. Questioning in Islam as in other religions — unfortunately — is believed be wrong or sacrilege.

The Quran says at Sunset eat and drink….

wakuloo washraboohatta yatabayyana lakumu alkhaytu al-abyadumina alkhayti al-aswadi mina alfajri thumma atimmoo assiyamaila allayli

And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. 2:187

“(And we send down water from the sky according to (due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease).

With it We grow for you gardens of date-palms and vines; in them have you abundant fruits: and of them you eat (and have enjoyment)” (Al-Mu’minun 23:18-19)

Yes DRINK of the desired liquids that nourish your body….the liquids that you may at times overindulge in.

Very important — because overindulgence is considered to be bad behavior.
I will repeat: You Do Not Overindulge In Water!

To me this is plain and simple common sense….something that Islam is supposed to be built upon.

What Is Water?

Hydrogen and oxygen atoms comprise the basis of the water molecule. When two hydrogen and one oxygen atom bind together, water is formed. One molecule of water has two atoms of hydrogen (abbreviated H) and one atom of oxygen (abbreviated 0). The chemical formula for water is H20.

Water covers almost three-quarters of earth’s total surface-about 379 million square kilometers (146 million square miles). Water makes earth the “blue” planet; visually unique from all others in the solar system. Almost all plants, animals, and people need clean water to live a healthy life.

 

The Mention of Water in the Holy Quran : Arabic : Ma / Maya

H2O is a very familiar chemical formula to any high school student. We are so dependent on water that no one can deny its vital role in our life.

Its importance in forming the creation in all of its aspects in general and the living-creatures in particular, as well as human kind, animals and plants is evident to all. However, the Qur’an mentions water’s magnificence in forming all creation and making life in every living thing in the following passages:

 

“We sent down water from the sky, blessed water whereby We caused to grow gardens, grains for harvest, tall palm-trees with their spathes, piled one above the other – sustenance for (Our) servants. Therewith We gave (new) life to a dead land. So will be the emergence (from the tombs).” [Quran 50:9-11]

And (what means): “We sent down water from the sky in measure and lodged it in the ground. And We certainly are able to withdraw it. Therewith for you We gave rise to gardens of palm-trees and vineyards where for you are abundant fruits and of them you eat.” [Quran 23: 18-19]

And (what means): “We sent forth the winds that fecundate. We cause the water to descend from the sky. We provide you with the water – you (could) not be the guardians of its reserves.” [Quran 15:22]

And (what means): “(Allaah) is the One Who sends forth the winds like heralds of His Mercy. When they have carried the heavy-laden clouds, We drive them to a dead land. Then We cause water to descend and thereby bring forth fruits of every kind. Thus We will bring forth the dead. Maybe you will remember.” [Quran 7:57]

And (what means): “Hast thou not seen that Allah sent water down from the sky and led it through sources into the ground? Then He caused sown fields of different colors to grow.” [Quran 39:21]

And (what means): “Therein We placed gardens of palm-trees and vineyards and We caused water springs to gush forth.” [Quran 36:34]

This last statement is surely exactly what is mentioned in the Quran (chapter 39, verse 21) describing the way rainwater is conducted into sources in the ground.

The subject of chapter 24, verse 43, is rain and hail (which means):

“Hast thou not seen that God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them a heap. And thou seest raindrops issuing from within it. He sends down from the sky mountains of hail, He strikes therewith whom He wills and He turns it away from whom He wills. The flashing of its lightning almost snatches away the sight.”

The following passage requires some comment (which means):

“Have you observed the water you drink? Do you bring it down from the rain clouds  Or do We? If it were Our will, We could make it salty. Then why are you not thankful?” [Quran 56: 68-70]

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? 21:30

Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. 24:45

And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days – and His Throne had been upon water – that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, “Indeed, you are resurrected after death,” those who disbelieve will surely say, “This is not but obvious magic.” 11:7

Ramadan – Eat and Drink But Waste Not By Extravagance

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It is noted on most of fasting people that they make the season of Ramadan as a season of the banquets which are full of different kinds of food; and that they are extremely extravagant in this matter.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, and peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah.

Fasting has a lot of morals among which is that the fasting Muslim should be economical in consuming his food and drink.

It is noted on most of fasting people that they make the season of Ramadan as a season of the banquets which are full of different kinds of food; and that they are extremely extravagant in this matter. They rush to the markets to buy delicious foods to most of which they are not familiar with at any other time except in Ramadan.

This leads to the wasting of money and fatiguing of the body in consuming a lot of food. Souls become lazy in performing acts of worship; long periods of times are wasted in shopping and preparing huge quantities of foods most of which are thrown in wastebaskets.

Such extreme preparation of most of the Muslims for Ramadan by diversifying and increasing foods and drinks is contrary to Allah’s order, contrary to the wisdom of fasting, contrary to preserving health, and contradictory to the rules of economy.

If such people were adopting the religious ethics, they would have been satisfied with their regular food and drink and would have spent the excess in the ways of charity that suit Ramadan, such as feeding the poor and orphans, breaking the fast of the needy fasting people and so on.

In most cases, each of these rich squanderers has a poor or a needy neighbor, who is more deserving for the charity of the rich neighbor.

If these rich have no such kind of neighbors, so let them give their surplus money to charities or to those who can spend it well on all charitable causes.

If the spendthrift rich do that, they will add a great means of nearness to Allah along with the means of nearness to Him by fasting; that is charity to the needy. This is an advantage to society as it brings hearts closer in this blessed month and makes all fasting persons feel that they are in the month of charity, mercy and brotherliness.

In addition, if man follows his desires to the extremes and devours all kinds of food; sweet and sour; cold and hot, he will suffer the bad consequences of misery and blight, lack and imbalance of health. Sometimes, it would be an obligation ordered by the advising physician to relieve the body systems, save some power for old age, maintain mild mood and well-manage the health.

This is the outstanding wisdom of fasting, so then, how are matters turned upside down? And how is the month of fasting made into a wide field for extravagant eating and drinking?

Allah Glorified and Exalted has said, {and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance,} [Surat Al-A’râf 7:31]

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. 7:31

Transliteration: wakuloo waishraboo wala tusrifoo