Think a moment

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

2009-06-11T22:29:00.000+08:00

The Ideal Husband *
By Fethullah Gulen
Muslim Intellectual - Turkey

Prophet Muhammad personifies the roles of perfect father and husband. He was so kind and tolerant with his wives that they could not envisage their lives without him, nor did they want to live away from him. He married Sawdah, his second wife, while in Makkah. After a while, he wanted to divorce her for certain reasons. She was extremely upset at this news and implored him, "O Messenger of Allah, I wish no worldly thing of you. I will sacrifice the time allocated to me if you don't want to visit me. But please don't deprive me of being your wife. I want to go to the hereafter as your wife. I care for nothing else" (Muslim).
The Messenger did not divorce her, nor did he stop visiting her.
Once he noticed that Hafsah was uncomfortable over their financial situation. "If she wishes, I may set her free," he said, or something to that effect. This suggestion so alarmed her that she requested mediators to persuade him not to do so. He kept his faithful friend's daughter as his trusted wife.
Separation Calamity
All of his wives viewed separation from the Messenger of Allah as a calamity, so firmly had he established himself in their hearts. They were completely at one with him. They shared in his blessed, mild, and natural life. If he had left them, they would have died of despair. If he had divorced one of them, she would have waited at his doorstep until the Last Day.
After his death, there was much yearning and a great deal of grief. Abu Bakr and `Umar found the Messenger's wives weeping whenever they visited them. Their weeping seemed to continue for the rest of their lives. Muhammad left an everlasting impression on everyone. At one point, he had nine wives and dealt equally with all of them and without any serious problems. He was a kind and gentle husband, and never behaved harshly or rudely. In short, he was the perfect husband.

Each of his wives thought that she was his most beloved.
A few days before his death, he said, "A servant has been allowed to choose this world or his Lord. He chose his Lord" (Al-Bukhari). Abu Bakr, intelligent and smart, began to cry, understanding that the Prophet was talking about himself. His illness got worse daily, and his severe headache caused him to writhe in pain. But even during this difficult period, he continued to treat his wives with kindness and gentleness. He asked for permission to stay in one room, as he had no strength to visit them one by one. His wives agreed, and the Messenger spent his last days in `A'ishah's room.
Most Beloved
Each wife, because of his generosity and kindness, thought she was his most beloved. The idea that any man could show complete equality and fairness in his relationships with nine women seems impossible. For this reason, the Messenger of Allah asked God's pardon for any unintentional leanings. He would pray, "I may have unintentionally shown more love to one of them than the others, and this would be injustice. So, O Lord, I take refuge in Your grace for those things beyond my power." (At-Tirmidhi).
What gentleness and sensitivity! I wonder if anyone else could show such kindness to his children or spouses. When people manage to cover up their lower inborn tendencies, it is as if they have done something very clever and shown tremendous willpower. But they sometimes expose these very defects unconsciously while bragging of their cleverness. The Messenger, despite showing no fault, sought only God's forgiveness.
His gentleness penetrated his wives' souls so deeply that his departure led to what they must have felt to be an unbridgeable separation. They did not commit suicide, as Islam forbids it, but their lives now became full of endless sorrow and ceaseless tears.
The Messenger was kind and gentle to all women, and advised all other men to follow him in this regard. Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas described his kindness as follows:
`Umar said: One day I went to the Prophet and saw him smiling. "May God make you smile forever, O Messenger of God," I said, and asked why he was smiling. "I smile at those women. They were chatting in front of me before you came. When they heard your voice, they all vanished," he answered still smiling. On hearing this answer, I raised my voice and told them, "O enemies of your own selves, you are scared of me, but you are not scared of the Messenger of God, and you don't show respect to him." "You are hard-hearted and strict," they replied. (Al-Bukhari )
The Messenger discussed matters with his wives as friends.
`Umar also was gentle to women. However, the most handsome man looks ugly when compared to Joseph's beauty. Likewise, `Umar's gentleness and sensitivity seem like violence and severity when compared to those of the Prophet. The women had seen the Messenger's gentleness, sensitivity, and kindness, and so regarded `Umar as strict and severe. Yet `Umar shouldered the caliphate perfectly and became one of the greatest examples after the Prophet. He was a just ruler and strove to distinguish right from wrong. His qualities enabled him to be caliph. Some of his qualities might seem rather severe; however, those very qualities enabled him to shoulder very demanding responsibilities.
Consultation
The Prophet did consult with his wives. The Messenger discussed matters with his wives as friends. Certainly he did not need their advice, since he was directed by revelation. However, he wanted to teach his nation that Muslim men were to give women every consideration. This was quite a radical idea in his time, as it is today in many parts of the world. He began teaching his people through his own relationship with his wives.
For example, the conditions laid down in the Treaty of Hudaybiyah disappointed and enraged many Muslims, for one condition stipulated that they could not make the pilgrimage that year. They wanted to reject the treaty, continue on to Makkah, and face the possible consequences. But the Messenger ordered them to slaughter their sacrificial animals and take off their pilgrim attire. Some Companions hesitated, hoping that he would change his mind. He repeated his order, but they continued to hesitate. They did not oppose him; rather, they still hoped he might change his mind, for they had set out with the intention of pilgrimage and did not want to stop half way.
Noticing this reluctance, the Prophet returned to his tent and asked Umm Salamah, his wife accompanying him at that time, what she thought of the situation. So she told him, fully aware that he did not need her advice. In doing this, he taught Muslim men an important social lesson: There is nothing wrong with exchanging ideas with women on important matters, or on any matters at all.
She said, "O Messenger of God, don't repeat your order. They may resist and thereby perish. Slaughter your sacrificial animal and change out of your pilgrim attire. They will obey you, willingly or not, when they see that your order is final" (Al-Bukhari).
He immediately took a knife in his hand, went outside, and began to slaughter his sheep. The Companions began to do the same, for now it was clear that his order would not be changed.
The Messenger encouraged us through his enlightening example to behave kindly with women.
Counsel and consultation, like every good deed, were practiced by God's Messenger first within his own family and then in the wider community. Even today, we understand so little about his relationships with his wives that it is as if we are wandering aimlessly around a plot of land, unaware of the vast treasure buried below our feet.
Two Halves
Women are secondary beings in the minds of many, including those self-appointed defenders of women's rights as well as many self-proclaimed Muslim men. In Islam, a woman is part of a whole, a part that renders the other half useful. We believe that when the two halves come together, the true unity of a human being appears. When this unity does not exist, humanity does not exist - nor can prophethood, sainthood, or even Islam.
Our Prophet encouraged us through his enlightening words to behave kindly to women. He declared, "The most perfect believers are the best in character, and the best of you are the kindest to their families" (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi). It is clear that women have received the true honor and respect they deserve, not just in theory but in actual practice, only once in history - during the period of Prophet Muhammad.
This World or the Next
The wives of the Messenger were given the choice of remaining with him or leaving:
[O Prophet, say to your wives: "If you desire the life of this world and its glitter, then come! I will provide for your enjoyment and set you free in a handsome manner. But if you seek God, His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, verily God has prepared for you, the well-doers among you, a great reward."] (Al-Ahzab 33:29)
A few of his wives who wanted a more prosperous life asked, "Couldn't we live a little more luxuriously, like other Muslims do? Couldn't we have at least a bowl of soup every day, or some prettier garments?" At first sight, such wishes might be considered fair and just. However, they were members of the family that was to be an example for all Muslim families until the Last Day.
The Messenger reacted by going into retreat. The news spread, and everyone rushed to the mosque and began to cry. The smallest grief felt by their beloved Messenger was enough to bring them all to tears, and even the smallest incident in his life would disturb them. Abu Bakr and `Umar, seeing the event in a different light as their daughters were directly involved, rushed to the mosque. They wanted to see him, but he would not leave his retreat. Eventually, on their third attempt, they gained entry and began to rebuke their daughters. The Messenger saw what was happening, but only said, "I cannot afford what they want" (Muslim).
The Qur'an declared [O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women] (Al-Ahzab 33:32).
Others might save themselves by simply fulfilling their obligations, but those who were at the very center of Islam had to devote themselves fully so that no weakness would appear at the center. There were advantages in being the Prophet's wives, but these advantages brought responsibilities and potential risks. The Messenger was preparing them as exemplars for all present and future Muslim women. He was especially worried that they might enjoy the reward for their good deeds in this world and thereby be included in [You have exhausted your share of the good things in your life of the world and sought comfort in them](Al-Ahqaf 46:20).
Life in the Prophet's house was uncomfortable. For this reason, either explicitly or implicitly, his wives made some modest demands. As their status was unique, they were not expected to enjoy themselves in a worldly sense. Some godly people laugh only a few times during their lives; others never fill their stomachs. For example, Fudayl ibn `Iyad never laughed. He smiled only once, and those who saw him do so asked him why he smiled, for they were greatly surprised. He told them, "Today I learned that my son `Ali died. I was happy to hear that God had loved him, and so I smiled" (Abu Nu`aym, Hilyat al-Awliya'). If there were such people outside of the Prophet's household, his wives, who were even more pious and respectful of God and regarded as Mothers of the Believers, would certainly be of a higher degree.
It is not easy to merit being together with the Messenger in this world and the hereafter. Thus, these special women were put to a great test. The Messenger allowed them to choose his poor home or the world's luxury. If they chose the world, he would give them whatever they wanted and then dissolve his marriage with them. If they chose God and His Messenger, they had to be content with their lives. This was a peculiarity of his family. Since this family was unique, its members had to be unique. The head of the family was chosen, as were the wives and children.
The Messenger first called `A'ishah and said, "I want to discuss something with you. You'd better talk with your parents before making a decision." Then he recited the verses mentioned above. Her decision was exactly as expected from a truthful daughter of a truthful father: "O Messenger of Allah, do I need to talk with my parents? By Allah, I choose Allah and His Messenger" (Muslim).
`A'ishah herself tells us what happened next: "The Messenger received the same answer from all his wives. No one expressed a different opinion. They all said what I had said." They did so because they were all at one with the Messenger. They could not differ. If the Messenger had told them to fast for a lifetime without break, they would have done so and endured it with pleasure. However, they endured hardship until their deaths.
Some of his wives had enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle before their marriage to him. One of these was Safiyyah, who had lost her father and husband and had been taken prisoner during the Battle of Khaybar. She must have been very angry with the Messenger, but when she saw him, her feelings changed completely. She endured the same destiny as the other wives. They endured it because love of the Messenger had penetrated their hearts.
Mothers of the Believers
The Messenger was the perfect head of a family.
Safiyyah was a Jew. Once, she was dismayed when this fact was mentioned to her sarcastically. She informed the Messenger, expressing her sadness. He comforted her saying, "If they repeat it, tell them, 'My father is Prophet Aaron, my uncle is Prophet Moses, and my husband is, as you see, Prophet Muhammad, the Chosen One. What do you have more than me to be proud of?'"
The Qur'an declares that his wives are the Mothers of the Believers (Al-Ahzab 33:6). Although 14 centuries have passed, we still feel delight in saying "my mother" when referring to Khadijah, `A'ishah, Umm Salamah, Hafsah, and his other wives. We feel this because of him. Some feel more love for these women than they do for their real mothers. Certainly, this feeling must have been deeper, warmer, and stronger in the Prophet's own time.
The Messenger was the perfect head of a family. Managing many women with ease, being a lover of their hearts, an instructor of their minds, an educator of their souls, he never neglected the affairs of the nation or compromised his duties.The Messenger excelled in every area of life. People should not compare him to themselves or to the so-called great personalities of their age. Researchers should look at him, the one to whom angels are grateful, always remembering that he excelled in every way. If they want to look for Muhammad they must search for him in his own dimensions. Our imaginations cannot reach him, for we do not even know how to imagine properly. God bestowed upon him, as His special favor, superiority in every field.
Ideal Father & Grandfather
Prophet Muhammad was an extraordinary husband, a perfect father, and a unique grandfather. He was unique in every way. He treated his children and grandchildren with great compassion, and never neglected to direct them to the straight path and to good deeds. He loved them and treated them tenderly, but did not allow them to neglect matters related to the afterlife. He showed them how to lead a humane life, and never allowed them to neglect their religious duties or to become spoiled. His ultimate goal was to prepare them for the hereafter. His perfect balance in such matters is another dimension of his divinely inspired intellect.
Anas ibn Malik, the Messenger's servant for 10 continuous years, says, "I have never seen a man who was more compassionate to his family members than Muhammad." (Muslim) If this admission were made just by us, it could be dismissed as unimportant. However, millions of people, so benign and compassionate that they would not even offend an ant, declare that he embraced everything with compassion. He was a human like us, but God inspired in him such an intimate affection for every living thing that he could establish a connection with all of them. As a result, he was full of extraordinary affection toward his family members and others.
All of the Prophet's sons died. Ibrahim, his last son, died in infancy. The Prophet often visited his son before the latter's death, although the Prophet was very busy. Ibrahim was looked after by a nurse. The Prophet would kiss and play with him before returning home. (Muslim) When Ibrahim took his last breaths, the eyes of the Prophet started shedding tears. `Abdur-Rahman ibn `Awf said, "O Allah's Messenger, even you (weep)!" The Prophet said, "O Ibn `Auf, this is mercy." Then he wept more and said, "The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim ! Indeed we are grieved by your separation." (Al-Bukhari)
The Messenger was completely balanced in the way he brought up his children. He loved his children and grandchildren very much, and instilled love in them. However, he never let his love for them be abused. None of them deliberately dared to do anything wrong. If they made an unintentional mistake, the Messenger's protection prevented them from going even slightly astray. He did this by wrapping them in love and an aura of dignity. For example, once Hasan or Husain wanted to eat a date that had been given to be distributed among the poor as alms. The Messenger immediately took it from his hand, and said, "Anything given as alms is forbidden to us." (Ibn Hanbal, Muslim) In teaching them while they were young to be sensitive to forbidden acts, he established an important principle of education.
Whenever he returned to Madinah, he would carry children on his mount. On such occasions, the Messenger embraced not only his grandchildren but also those in his house and those nearby. He conquered their hearts through his compassion. He loved all children.
He loved his granddaughter Umamah. He often went out with her on his shoulders, and even placed her on his shoulders while praying. When he prostrated, he put her down; when he had finished praying, he placed her on his back again. (Muslim) He showed this degree of love to Umamah to teach his male followers how to treat girls. This was a vital necessity; only a decade earlier, it had been the social norm to bury infant or young girls alive. Such public paternal affection for a granddaughter had never been seen before in Arabia.
The Messenger proclaimed that Islam allows no discrimination between son and daughter. How could there be? One is Muhammad, the other is Khadijah; one is Adam, the other is Eve; one is 'Ali, the other is Fatima. For every great man there is a great woman.
As soon as Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger, entered the room where the Messenger was, he would stand, take her hands, and make her sit where he was sitting. He would ask about her health and family, show his paternal love for her, and compliment her.
Fatimah, knowing how fond he was of her, loved him more than her own self. Her great mission was to be the seed for godly people. She always watched her father and how he called people to Islam. She wept and groaned when the Messenger told her that he would die soon, and rejoiced when he told her that she would be the first family member to follow him. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Her father loved her, and she loved her father.

* This article was taken, with slight modifications, with kind permission from theauthor's website.
is an influential Turkish Muslim intellectual who inspired a series of social activities, including a transnational education and business network, interfaith dialogue forums, and multicultural encounters. Fethullah Gulen

Emergency Status (Dharurah) and Islamic banks

2009-05-01T22:56:00.000+08:00

Zaharuddin Abd Rahman

www.zaharuddin.net

( This article is an excerpt from my book "money, you and Islam" which can be purchased at this link )

"If a person was lost for days in the thick forest without eating and may die, could he consume a pig due to desperation (dharurat)?" I asked the participants in an Islamic finance seminar.

"Yes, he could," answered the participants confidently.

"Wrong" I replied, creating confusion.

"This is because other options are still exist in the forest to ease his hunger such as snails, worms, plants, fruits and so on, which are far better than a pig. That should be prioritized rather than consuming the pig," I argued.

"Thus there is no dharurat at that time, and it is not permissible for the man to consume the pig just because it is tastier, more appetizing and fatter than worms" I said firmly, inviting laughter from participants.

The same situation applies to Islamic banking in Malaysia. Muslims should give priority to Islamic banking although it looks less ‘appetizing' and causes additional difficulties as compared to riba based institutions. Muslims cannot use dharurat as an excuse to use the facilities of conventional banks.

As mentioned:

"Verily what is allowed due to emergency (dharurat) requires a certainty that the emergency occurred after every effort of searching (for what is permitted)." (Syarhul Umdah, 1/426)

The example above is to indicate that the argument of emergency for using conventional banks and insurance in Malaysia these days is totally unacceptable since there are Islamic banks, Islamic banking windows and takaful. The excuse that the price in conventional banks is cheaper should not be used as it is similar to the lost and starving person who saw a chicken (that is permitted) but consumed a pig just because he desired it. The only exception is when all Islamic institutions have rejected your application. Remember the Islamic Legal Maxims that reads:

Meaning: "What is permissible due to dharurat is limited to a certain limit." (As-Ashbah Wa An-Nazair, As-Suyuti, 1/82; Hawashi Asy-Syarwani, 3/272)

Consider the following scenarios:

In a secluded village where clean drinking water is scarce, two sellers approach the villagers with the following offer:

Seller A: Offering 1 liter of cheap liquor at only RM0.50 a bottle.

Seller B: Offering 1 liter of cheap orange juice at only RM1.00 a bottle.

Who do you think, in the above scenario, is inconsiderate and malicious? If your answer is B ( because selling orange in higher price than liqour), YOU MIGHT NEED TO RETHINK AND RECHECK your level of belief and taqwa, it might be at a worrying stage. Why?

It shows that the person make the visible and material element i.e price as a more important than the spiritual element i.e the prohibition of liquor.

To me, there is nothing more malicious and cruel than offering liquor that is prohibited, and at a cheap price that attracts people to do the prohibited.

Do not reprimand seller B for selling at a higher price, as we do not know his capital and cost to obtain the oranges. He also wants to profit while offering a permitted drink.

You say, "True, but seller B should be more considerate and sacrifice to save a lot of people from being attracted to what is prohibited". I believe it depends on the ihsan and belief of seller B but what he did was permissible. It depends on the owner. Therefore, if the owner of an Islamic bank is unable to give discounts, other owners may not be able to do so as well.

Finally, we should be fair in evaluating Islamic banks and not hastily accusing them as malicious when they are actually saving the Muslim ummah from falling into the trap of riba-based conventional banks.

Best regards,

Zaharuddin Abd Rahman

www.zaharuddin.net

Economics and Islam

2008-05-21T16:35:00.004+08:00

"O you who believe! do not devour your property among yourselves falsely, except that it be trading by your mutual consent, and do not kill yourselves. Surely Allah is Merciful to you." Qur'an [4:29]

Islam is a complete way of life. Allah, the Creator of humanity, has given us guidelines affecting many different aspects of our lives, including the economic aspect. There is a great deal of information in the Qur'an and Sunnah which describes how Muslims are to engage in economic transactions. Just as Muslims are obligated to obey the rules of Islam regarding prayer, fasting, etc., they are also commanded to obey the injunctions regarding interest for example.

Reflecting the growing and global Muslim revival, Islamic banking is widely regarded as the fastest growing segment of the international banking system. The remarkable growth and development of Islamic banks all over the world has produced greater accessibility to different services and transactions which satisfy the conditions elucidated in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Judging from the success of some of these banks, it may be that they are pioneers into a potentially huge and untapped market. To top it off, they are helping bring to reality the goal of economic independence and strength to the Muslim Ummah.

22 Dua from The Holy Quran

2008-05-19T13:51:00.000+08:00

" And when My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I respond to the dua (prayer) of every suppliant when they calleth on Me " [ Quran 2:186 ]

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after selves, and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost! (7:23)

13. Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of evildoing. (7:47)

14. Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89)

15. Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered themselves unto You. (7:126)

16. Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by Your mercy from people who deny the truth (10:85-86)

17. Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38)

18. Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way. (18:10) & (59:10)

19. Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4)

20. Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (66:8)

21. Surah Al-An'am 6.162: Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily
You have power over all things. (66:8)

22. Surah Al-An'am 6.162: Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Jesus in Islam

2008-05-19T13:42:00.002+08:00

The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews, who rejected Jesus as a prophet, called him an imposter, while the Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the greatest and most forbearing of prophets, in addition to Noah, Abraham, Moses and Muhammad, may God praise them. Jesus is also considered to be the Messiah as well. This is in conformity with the Islamic view of the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God’s messengers.

The message of God to humanity, which is to worship God and God alone and to live according to His instruction, was revealed to Adam (peace be upon him), who passed it on to his children. All the subsequent revelations to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and, finally, Muhammad are in conformity with that message. Thus, Islam views any contradictions among revealed religions as man-made elements introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major creeds- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- is not an exception.

Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his ascension to heaven. It also passes judgment on the Christian and Jewish beliefs concerning him. We will look at some of the truths which God revealed about Jesus in the Quran.

Born of a Virgin Mother

Like Christians, Muslims believe that Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus. Jesus’ birth in itself was a miracle in that he had no father. God describes his birth in the Quran as follows:

“And mention in the Book (the Quran), Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her a spirit from Us, (the angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (God) from you, if you do fear God.’ (The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’ She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man hath touched me, nor am I unchaste?’ He said: ‘So (it will be), your Lord said That is easy for Me (God): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by God).’” (Quran 19:16-21)

This fact, however, does not necessitate that Jesus is divine in essence or spirit, nor is he worthy of worship, for Adam’s existence was more miraculous than that of Jesus. If his miraculous birth were a proof that Jesus was God incarnate or His son, then Adam would have more right over this divinity than him. Rather, both are prophets who were inspired with revelation from God Almighty, and both were servants to Him living according to His commandments.

“Indeed, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said to him: ‘Be!’ and he was.’” (Quran 3:59)

Miracles

Muslims, like Christians believe that Jesus performed miracles. These miracles were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.

“Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’” (Quran 5:110)

God sent all prophets with miracles specific to the nation to whom they were sent to prove the veracity of their message. These miracles were not performed of their own accord; rather, they were only manifest in their hands by God's will. The miracles performed by Jesus were no different. The Jews were well advanced in the field of medicine, and the miracles which Jesus brought were of this nature, proving the truth of His message and in order to convince the Jews.

A LETTER TO THE MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH BELIEVERS

2008-05-16T15:49:00.000+08:00

Muslim, Christian and Jewish believers,

Let’s Act All Together for Love, Peace and Brotherhood and Respect the Faiths.

All prophets are very beautiful people.

Their disposition, morals and attitudes are excellent. They are exemplary people, who are most respected and loved.

Any inappropriate language directed towards them disturbs all believers. It is unreasonable to explain away any such contrary attitudes by the excuses of “democracy” or “tolerance.”

From the Qur’an, as well as the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, we know that throughout history, unbelievers seemed to mock and slander God’s blessed messengers. However, the Qur’an foretells the miserable end of those who try to ridicule God’s messengers, with these words: “Messengers before you were also mocked, but those who jeered were engulfed by what they mocked.” (Qur’an, 6: 10)

Jesus (peace be upon him) is also one of the Islamic prophets highly praised in the Qur’an. In one verse, the Qur’an states that people also attempted to mock Jesus (pbuh) in the time of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace):

When an example is made of the son of Mary [Jesus], your people laugh uproariously. (Qur’an, 43: 57)

From the Hebrew Bible, the holy book of the Jews, we learn that Prophets Elijah, Moses, Job and many other prophets (peace be upon them all) met similar attitudes from the people they addressed. As it is stated:

But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy. (2 Chronicles 36: 16)

Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?

. . . In the light of these things, should I relent? (Isaiah 57: 4, 6)

Likewise, the hostile manner of the unbelievers to God's blessed messenger Jesus (pbuh) is related in the New Testament in these terms:

He [Jesus] will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him... (Luke 18: 32)

For further information, please visit www.islamdenouncesterrorism.com
Harun Yahya / Global Publishing

www.harunyahya.com / www.bookglobal.net

Ruling on celebrating the birthday of the Prophet

2007-03-28T00:42:00.000+08:00

Praise be to Allaah the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.

The commands mentioned in the Qur’aan and Sunnah to follow the laws of Allaah and His Messenger, and the prohibitions on introducing innovations into the religion are quite clear. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’aan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins’”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:31]

“Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any Awliyaa’ (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allaah), besides Him (Allaah). Little do you remember!”
[al-A’raaf 7:3]

“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path”
[al-A’naam 6:153]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The most truthful of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, and the most evil of things are those which are newly-invented.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 2697; Muslim, no. 1718). According to a version narrated by Muslim, “Whoever doe anything that is not in accordance with this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected.”

Among the reprehensible innovations that people have invented is the celebration of the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the month of Rabee’ al-Awwal. They celebrate this occasion in various ways:

Some of them simply make it an occasion to gather and read the story of the Mawlid, then they present speeches and qaseedahs (odes) for this occasion.
Some of them make food and sweets etc., and offer them to the people present.
Some of them hold these celebrations in the mosques, and some of them hold them in their houses.

Some people do not limit themselves to the actions mentioned above; they include in these gatherings haraam and reprehensible things, such as free mixing of men and women, dancing and singing, or committing actions of shirk such as seeking the help of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), calling upon him, seeking his support against their enemies and so on.

Whatever form it takes and whatever the intentions of those who do this are, there is no doubt whatsoever that it is an invented, haraam innovation which was introduced by the Shi’a Faatimids after the three best centuries, in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. The first person to do this after them was the king al-Muzaffar Abu Sa’eed Kawkaboori, the king of Irbil, at the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh century AH, as was mentioned by the historians such as Ibn Khalkaan and others. Abu Shaamah said: the first person to do that in Mosul was Shaykh ‘Umar ibn Muhammad al-Malaa, one of the well-known righteous people. Then the ruler of Irbil and others followed his example.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (13/137), in his biography of Abu Sa’eed Kazkaboori: “He used to observe the Mawlid in Rabee’ al-Awwal and hold a huge celebration on that occasion… some of those who were present at the feast of al-Muzaffar on some occasions of the Mawlid said that he used to offer in the feast five thousand grilled heads of sheep, ten thousand chickens and one hundred thousand large dishes, and thirty trays of sweets… he would let the Sufis sing from Zuhr until Fajr, and he himself would dance with them.”

Ibn Khalkaan said in Wafiyaat al-A’yaan (3/274): “When it is the first of Safar they decorate those domes with various kinds of fancy adornments, and in every dome there sits a group of singers and a group of puppeteers and players of musical instruments, and they do not leave any one of those domes without setting up a group (of performers) there.

The people give up work during this period, and they do no work except going around and watching the entertainment. When there are two days to go until the Mawlid, they bring out a large number of camels, cows and sheep, more than can be described, and they accompany them with all the drums, songs and musical instruments that they have, until they bring them to the square… On the night of the Mawlid there are performances of nasheed after Maghrib in the citadel.”

This is the origin of this celebration on the occasion of the Prophet’s birthday. More recently idle entertainment, extravagance, and wasting of money and time have become associated with an innovation for which Allaah has not sent down any authority.

What Muslims should do is to revive the Sunnah and put an end to bid’ah (innovation); they should not do any action until they know the ruling of Allaah concerning it.

Ruling on celebrating the Prophet’s birthday

Celebrating the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is forbidden and is to be rejected for a number of reasons:

1 – it is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or of the khaleefahs who succeeded him. Since this is the case, then it is a forbidden innovation, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khaleefahs after me; adhere to it and cling to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented things, for every newly-invented thing is an innovation (bid’ah) and every innovation is a going-astray.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi no. 2676).

Celebrating the Mawlid is an innovation introduced by the Shi’a Faatimids after the three best centuries in order to corrupt the religion of the Muslims. If a person does anything in order to draw closer to Allaah which was not done by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or enjoined by him, and was not done by the khaleefahs who succeeded him, this action implies that he is accusing the Messenger of not explaining the religion to the people, and that he disbelieves in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you”
[al-Maa'idah 5:3]

because he is adding something extra and claiming that it is a part of the religion, but the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not bring this.

2 – Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is an imitation of the Christians, because they celebrate the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him). Imitating them is extremely haraam. The hadeeth tells us that it is forbidden to imitate the kuffaar, and we are commanded to differ from them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them” (narrated by Ahmad, 2/50; Abu Dawood, 4/314). And he said, “Be different from the mushrikeen” (narrated by Muslim, 1/222, no. 259) – especially with regard to things that are the symbols or rituals of their religion.

3 – Besides being bid’ah and an imitation of the Christians, both of which are haraam, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is also a means that leads to exaggeration and excess in venerating him, which even goes as far as calling upon him (making du’aa’ to him) and seeking his help, instead of calling upon Allaah, as happens now among many of those who observe the bid’ah of the Mawlid, when they call upon the Messenger instead of Allaah, and ask him for support, and sing qaseedahs (odes) of shirk praising him, like Qaseedat al-Burdah etc. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade going to extremes in praising him, as he said: “Do not extol as the Christians extolled the son of Maryam. For I am just His slave, so say, the slave of Allaah and His Messenger” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4/142, no. 3445; al-Fath, 6/551), i.e., do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the Messiah and venerated him until they worshipped him instead of Allaah. Allaah forbade them to do that when he said (interpretation of the meaning):

“O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Eesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, (“Be!” — and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rooh) created by Him”
[al-Nisaa’ 4:171]

Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade us to exaggerate concerning him lest the same thing happen to us as happened to them, so he said: “Beware of exaggeration, for those who came before you were destroyed because of exaggeration” (narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 5/268; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa’i, no. 2863).

4 – Observing the innovation of the Prophet’s birthday opens the door to other kinds of bid’ah and being distracted by them from the Sunnah. Hence you find that the innovators are very active when it comes to bid’ah and very lazy when it comes to the Sunnah; they hate it and regard those who follow it as enemies, until their entire religion is innovated anniversaries and Mawlids. They have split into various groups, each of which commemorates the anniversary of its imaam’s birth, such as the births of al-Badawi, Ibn ‘Arabi, al-Dasooqi and al-Shaadhili. No sooner do they end the celebration of one birthday but they start the celebration of another. This results in exaggeration concerning these dead people and others, and in calling upon them instead of Allaah, believing that they can bring benefit and cause harm, until they deviate from the religion of Allaah and go back to the religion of the people of the Jaahiliyyah of whom Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And they worship besides Allaah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: ‘These are our intercessors with Allaah’”
[Yoonus 10:18]

“And those who take Awliyaa’ (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): ‘We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah’”
[al-Zumar 39:3]

Discussing the specious arguments of those who celebrate the Mawlid

Those who think that this bid’ah should be continued produce specious arguments which are flimsier than a spider’s web. These specious arguments may be dealt with as follows:
1 – Their claim that this is veneration of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

The response to that is that the way to venerate him is to obey him, do as he commanded and avoid that which he forbade, and to love him; he is not to be venerated through innovations, myths and sins. Celebrating his birthday is of this blameworthy type because it is a sin. The people who venerated the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) the most were the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them), as ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ood said to Quraysh: “O people, by Allaah I have visited kings. I went to Caesar, Chosroes and the Negus, but by Allaah I never saw a king whose companions venerated him as much as the companions of Muhammad venerated Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). By Allaah, whenever he spat it never fell on the ground, it fell into into the hand of one his companions, then they wiped their faces and skins with it. If he instructed them to do something, they would hasten to do as he commanded. When he did wudoo’, they would almost fight over his water. When he spoke they would lower their voices in his presence; and they did not stare at him out of respect for him.” (al-Bukhaari, 3/178, no. 2731, 2732; al-Fath, 5/388). Yet despite this level of veneration, they never took the day of his birth as an ‘Eid (festival). If that had been prescribed in Islam they would not have neglected to do that.

2 – Using as evidence the fact that many people in many countries do this.

The response to that is that evidence consists of that which is proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and what is proven from the Prophet is that innovations are forbidden in general, and this is an innovation. What people do, if it goes against the evidence (daleel), does not prove anything, even if many of them do it.

“And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allaah’s path”
[al-An’aam 6:116 – interpretation of the meaning]

Nevertheless, in every age, praise be to Allaah, there have always been those who denounce this bid’ah and state clearly that it is false. Those who persist in following it after the truth had been explained to them have no proof.

Among those who denounced the celebration of this occasion was Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, in Iqtidaa’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem; Imaam al-Shaatibi in al-‘I’tisaam; Ibn al-Haaj in al-Madkhil; Shaykh Taaj al-Deen ‘Ali ibn ‘Umar al-Lakhami who wrote an entire book denouncing it; Shaykh Muhammad Basheer al-Sahsawaani al-Hindi in his book Siyaanah al-Insaan; al-Sayyid Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa wrote a separate essay on this topic; Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal al-Shaykh wrote a separate essay on it; Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz; and others who are still writing and denouncing this bid’ah every year in the pages of newspapers and magazines, at the time when this bid’ah is being done.

3 – They say that by celebrating the Mawlid they are keeping the memory of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) alive.

The answer to that is that the memory of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is constantly kept alive by the Muslim, such as when his name (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is mentioned in the adhaan and iqaamah and in khutbahs, and every time the Muslim recites the Shahaadatayn after doing wudoo’ and in the prayers, and every time he sends blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in his prayers and when he is mentioned, and every time the Muslim does a waajib (obligatory) or mustahabb (recommended) action that was prescribed by the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). In all of these ways (the Muslim) remembers him and the reward equivalent to the reward of the one who does that action goes back to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Thus the Muslim constantly keeps the memory of the Messenger alive and has a connection with him night and day throughout his life through that which Allaah has prescribed, not only on the day of the Mawlid and things which are bid’ah and go against the Sunnah, for that puts one at a distance from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the Messenger will disown him because of that.

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has no need of this innovated celebration, because Allaah has already bestowed veneration and respect upon him, as He says:
“and raised high your fame”
[al-Sharh 94:4]

For Allaah is not mentioned in the adhaan, iqaamah or khutbah, but the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is mentioned after Him; this is sufficient veneration, love and renewal of his memory, ad sufficient encouragement to follow him.

Allaah did not refer to the birth of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the Qur’aan, rather He referred to his Mission, and says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Indeed, Allaah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:124]

“He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves”
[al-Jumu’ah 64:2]

4 – They may say that the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday was introduced by a knowledgeable and just king who intended thereby to draw closer to Allaah.
Our response to that is that bid’ah is not acceptable, no matter who does it. A good intention does not justify a bad deed and even if a person died as a knowledgeable and righteous person, this does not mean that he was infallible.

5 – They say that celebrating the mawlid comes under the heading of bid’ah hasanah (“good innovation”) because it is based on giving thanks to Allaah for the Prophet!
Our response to that is that there is nothing good in innovation. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 2697; al-Fath, 5/355). And he said, “Every innovation is a going astray” (narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi, no. 2676). The ruling on innovations is that they are all misguidance, but this specious argument suggests that not every bid’ah is a going astray, rather there are good innovations.
Al-Haafiz ibn Rajab said in Sharh al-Arba’een: “The words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), ‘every innovation is a going astray’ is a concise but comprehensive comment which includes everything; it is one of the most important principles of religion. It is like his words ‘Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected.’ (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3/167, no. 2697; al-Fath, 5/355). Whoever innovates anything and attributes it to Islam when it has no basis in the religion, this is a going astray and is nothing to do with Islam, whether that has to do with matters of belief (‘aqeedah) or outward and inward words and deeds.”
(Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hakam, p. 233)

These people have no proof that there is any such thing as a “good innovation” apart from the words of ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) concerning Taraaweeh prayers, “What a good innovation this is.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 2/252, no. 2010 mu’allaqan; al-Fath 4/294).
They also said that things were innovated which were not denounced by the salaf, such as compiling the Qur’aan into one volume and writing and compiling the hadeeth.

The response to that is that these matters had a basis in Islam, so they were not newly-invented.

‘Umar said: “What a good bid’ah” meaning innovation in the linguistic sense, not in the shar’i sense. Whatever has a basis in Islam, if it is described as an innovation, is an innovation in the linguistic sense, not in the shar’i sense, because innovation in the shar’i sense means that which has no basis in Islam.

Compiling the Qur’aan into one book has a basis in Islam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had commanded that the Qur’aan be written down, but it was scattered, so the Sahaabah compiled it in one volume so as so protect and preserve it.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led his companions in praying Taraaweeh for a while, then he stopped doing that, lest that become obligatory on them. The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) continued to pray it separately during the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and after his death, until ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with them) gathered them behind one imaam as they used to pray behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This was not an innovation introduced into the religion.

Writing down the hadeeth also has a basis in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordered that some ahaadeeth should be written down for some of his companions when they asked him for that. In general terms writing it down during his lifetime was not allowed, for fear that the Qur’aan might be mixed with things that were not part of it. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) died, this fear was no longer a factor, because the Qur’aan had been completed and arranged in order before he died. The Muslims compiled the Sunnah after that in order to preserve it and keep it from being lost. May Allaah reward them with good on behalf of Islam and the Muslims, because they preserved the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) from being lost or being tampered with.

We may also say to them: why was this act of thanksgiving, as they call it, not done by the best generations, the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and followers of the Taabi’een, who loved the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) most and who were most keen to do good and give thanks? Are those who introduced the innovation of the Mawlid more rightly-guided than them? Do they give more thanks to Allaah? Definitely not!

6 – They may say that celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is indicative of their love for him; this is one way of showing that, and showing love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is prescribed in Islam!

The answer to that is that undoubtedly loving the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is obligatory for every Muslim; he should love him more than he loves himself, his child, his father and all the people – may my father and mother be sacrificed for him – but that does not mean that we should introduce innovations for doing so that have not been prescribed for us. Loving him dictates that we should obey him and follow him, for that is one of the greatest manifestations of love, as it is said:

“If your love is sincere then obey him; for the lover obeys the one whom he loves.”
Loving the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) implies keeping his Sunnah alive, adhering firmly to it, and avoiding words and deeds that go against it. Undoubtedly everything that goes against his Sunnah is a reprehensible innovation (bid’ah) and a manifest act of disobedience. That includes celebrating his birthday and other kinds of bid’ah. A good intention does not mean that it is permissible to introduce innovations into the religion. Islam is based on two things, purity of intention and following [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)]. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allaah (i.e. follows Allaah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin (a doer of good) then his reward is with his Lord (Allaah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”
[al-Baqarah 2:112]

Submitting one’s face to Allaah means being sincere towards Allaah, and doing good means following the Messenger and implementing the Sunnah.

7 – Another of their specious arguments is when they say that by celebrating the Mawlid and reading the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on this occasion, they are encouraging people to follow his example!

We say to them that reading the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and following his example are required of the Muslim all the time, all year long and throughout his life. Singling out a specific day for that with no evidence for doing so is an innovation, and every innovation is a going astray.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/164; al-Tirmidhi, 2676). Bid’ah does not bear any fruit but evil and it leads to a person distancing himself from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

In conclusion, celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), whatever form it takes, is a reprehensible innovation. The Muslims should put a stop to this and other kinds of bid’ah, and occupy themselves with reviving and adhering to the Sunnah. They should not be deceived by those who promote and defend this bid’ah, for these types of people are more interested in keeping innovations alive than in reviving the Sunnah; they may not even care about the Sunnah at all. Whoever is like this, it is not permissible to imitate him or follow his example, even if the majority of people are like this. Rather we should follow the example of those who follow the path of the Sunnah, among the righteous salaf and their followers, even if they are few. Truth is not measured by the men who speak it, rather men are measured by the truth.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you lives (for a long time) will see many differences. I urge you to follow my Sunnah and the way of the rightly-guided khaleefahs who come after me. Hold on to it firmly. Beware of newly-invented matters, for every innovation is a going astray.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 4/126; al-Tirmidhi no. 2676). So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained to us in this hadeeth what we should do when there are differences of opinion, just as he explained that everything that goes against his Sunnah, be it words or deeds, is a bid’ah, and every bid’ah is a going astray.
If we see that there is no basis for celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, whether in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or in the way of the rightly-guided khaleefahs, then it is one of the newly-invented matters, one of the bid’ahs which lead people astray. This principle is what is implied by this hadeeth and is what is indicated by the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination”
[al-Nisaa’ 4:59]

Referring to Allaah means referring to His Book, and referring to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) means referring to his Sunnah after he has passed away. The Qur’aan and Sunnah are the reference point in cases of dispute. Where in the Qur’aan or Sunnah does it indicate that it is prescribed in Islam to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday? Whoever does that or thinks that it is good must repent to Allaah from this and from other kinds of bid’ah. This is the attitude of the Muslim who is seeking the truth. But whoever is too stubborn and arrogant after proof has been established, then his reckoning will be with his Lord.

We ask Allaah to help us adhere to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger until the Day when we will meet Him. May Allaah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.

Huqooq al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) bayna al-Ijlaal wa’l-Ikhlaal, p. 139
Shaykh Dr. Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Member of the Committee of Senior Scholars, Saudi Arabia.

The True Religion

2007-03-10T02:38:00.000+08:00

By Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

THE RELIGION OF ISLAM

The first thing that one should know and clearly understand about Islam is what the word "Islam" itself means. The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Christianity which was named after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Gotama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius, and Marxism after Karl Marx. Nor was it named after a tribe like Judaism after the tribe of Judah and Hinduism after the Hindus. Islam is the true religion of "Allah" and as such, its name represents the central principle of Allah's "God's" religion; the total submission to the will of Allah "God". The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) I in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.

Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of Allah, and it was the religion of all the prophets sent by Allah to mankind. The name of God's religion lslam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. In the final book of divine revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah states the following:

"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion". (Soorah Al-Maa'idah 5:3)

"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah (God) never will It be accepted of Him" (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:85)

"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim." (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:67)

Nowhere in the Bible will you find Allah saying to Prophet Moses' people or their descendants that their religion is Judaism, nor to the followers of Christ that their religion is Christianity. In fact, Christ was not even his name, nor was it Jesus! The name "Christ" comes from the Greek word Christos which means the annointed. That is, Christ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew title "Messiah". The name "Jesus" on the other hand, is a latinized version of the Hebrew name Esau.

For simplicity's sake, I will however continue to refer to Prophet Esau (PBUH) as Jesus. As for his religion, it was what he called his followers to. Like the prophets before him, he called the people to surrender their will to the will of Allah; (which is Islam) and he warned them to stay away from the false gods of human imagination.

According to the New Testament, he taught his followers to pray as follows: "Yours will be done on earth as it is in Heaven".

THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM

Since the total submission of one's will to Allah represents the essence of worship, the basic message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place or thing other than Allah.Since everything other than Allah, the Creator of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship of creation and invites him to worship only its Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship as it is only by His will that prayers are answered. If man prays to a tree and his prayers are answered, it was not the tree which answered his prayers but Allah who allowed the circumstances prayed for to take place. One might say, "That is obvious," however, to tree-worshippers it might not be. Similarly, prayers to Jesus, Buddha, or Krishna, to Saint Christopher, or Saint Jude or even to Muhammad, are not answered by them but are answered by Allah. Jesus did nottell his followers to worship him but to worship Allah. As the Qur'aan states:

"And behold Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary Did you say to men, Worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah He will say-"Glory to you I could never say what I had no right (to say')" (Soorah Al-Maa'idah- 5:116)

Nor did he worship himself when he worshipped but rather he worshipped Allah. This basic principle is enshrined in the opening chapter of the Qur'aan, known as Soorah Al-Faatihah, verse 4:

"You alone do we worship and from you alone do we seek help".

Elsewhere, in the final book of revelation, the Qur'aan, Allah also said:

"And your Lord says:"Call on Me and I will answer your(prayer)."(Soorsh Mu'min 40:60)

it is worth noting that the basic message of Islam is that Allah and His creation are distinctly different entities. Neither is Allah His creation or a part of it, nor is His creation Him or a part of Him.

This might seem obvious, but, man's worship of creation instead of the Creator is to a large degree based on ignorance of this concept. It is the belief that the essence of Allah is everywhere in His creation or that His divine being is or was present in some aspects of His creation, which has provided justification for the worship of creation though such worship maybecalled the worship of Allah through his creation. How ever, the message of Islam as brought by the prophets of Allah is to worship only Allah and to avoid the worship of his creation either directly or indirectly. In the Our'aan Allah clearlystates:

"For We assuredly sent amongst every people a prophet,(with the command) worship meand avoid false gods " (Soorsh Al-Nahl 16:36)

When the idol worshipper is questioned as to why he or she bows down to idols created by men, the invariable reply is that they are not actually worshipping the stone image, but Allah who is present within it. They claim that the stone idol is only a focal point for Allah's essence and is not in itself Allah! One who has accepted the concept of the presence of God's being within His creation in any way will be obliged to accept this argument of idolatry. Whereas, one who understands the basic message of Islam and its implications would never concede to idolatry no matter how it is rationalized. Those who have claimed divinity for themselves down through the ages have often based their claims on the mistaken belief that Allah is present in man. They merely had to assert that although Allah according to their false beliefs, is in all of us, He is more present in them than in the rest of us. Hence, they claim, we should submit our will to them and worship them as they are either God in person or God concentrated within the person.

Similarly, those who have asserted the godhood of others after their passing have found fertile ground among those who accept the false belief of God's presence in man. One who has grasped the basic message of Islam and its implications could never agree to worship another human being under any circumstances. God's religion in essence is a clear call to the worship of the Creator and the rejection of creation-worship in any form. This is the meaning of the motto of Islam:

"Laa Elaaha lllallaah" (There is no god but Allah)

Its repetition automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and sincere belief in it guarantees one Paradise.

Thus, the final Prophet of Islam is reported to have said, "Any one who says: There is no god but Allah and dies holding that (belief) will enter paradise".(Reported by Abu Dharr and collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

It consists in the submission to Allah as one God, yielding to Him by obeying His commandments, and the denial of polytheism and polytheists.

THE MESSAGE OF FALSE RELIGION

There are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies, and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path to Allah. How can one determine which one is correct or if, in fact, all are correct? The method by which the answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and identify the central object of worship to which they call, directly or indirectly. False religions all have in common one basic concept with regards to Allah. They either claim that all men are gods or that specific men were Allah or that nature is Allah or that Allah is a figment of man's imagination.

Thus, it may be stated that the basic message of false religion is that Allah may be worshipped in the form of His creation. False religion invites man to the worship of creation by calling the creation or some aspect of it God. For example, prophet Jesus invited his followers to worship Allah but those who claim to be his followers today call people to worship Jesus, claiming that he was Allah!

Buddha was a reformer who introduced a number of humanistic principles to the religion of India. He did not claim to be God nor did he suggest to his followers that he be an object of worship. Yet, today most Buddhists who are to be found outside of India have taken him to be God and prostrate to idols made in their perception of his likeness.

By using the principle of identifying the object of worship, false religion becomes very obvious and the contrived nature of their origin clear. As God said in the Our'aan:

That which you worship besides Him are only names you and your forefathers have invented for which Allah has sent down no authority: The command belongs only to Allah:

He has commanded that you only worship Him; that is the right religion, but most men do not understand ". (Soorah Yoosuf 12:40)

It may be argued that all religions teach good things so why should it matter which one we follow. The reply is that all false religions teach the greatest evil, the worship of creation. Creation-worship is the greatest sin that man can commit because it contradicts the very purpose of his creation. Man was created to worship Allah alone as Allah has explicitly stated in the Our'aan:

"I have only created Jlnns and men, that they may worship me"(Soorah Zaareeyaat 51:56)

Consequently, the worship of creation, which is the essence of idolatry, is the only unforgivable sin. One who dies in this state of idolatry has sealed his fate in the next life. This is not an opinion, but a revealed fact stated by Allah in his final revelation to man:

"Verily Allah will not forgive the joining of partners with Him, but He may forgive (sins) less than that for whom so ever He wishes"(Soorah An- Nisaa 4:48 and 116)

THE UNIVERSALITY OF ISLAM

Since the consequences of false religion are so grave, the true religion of Allah must be universally understandable and attainable, not confined to any people, place or time. There can not be conditions like baptism, belief in a man, as a saviour etc., for a believer to enter paradise. Within the central principle of Islam and in its definition, (the surrender of one's will to God) lies the roots of lslam's universality. Whenever man comes to the realization that Allah is one and distinct from His creation, and submits himself to Allah, he becomes a Muslim in body and spirit and is eligible for paradise. Thus, anyone at anytime in the most remote region of the world can become a Muslim, a follower of God's religion, Islam, by merely rejecting the worship of creation and by turning to Allah (God) alone-It should be noted however, that the recognition of and submission to Allah requires that one chooses between right and wrong and such a choice implies accountability. Man will be held responsible for his choices, and, as such, he should try his utmost to do good and avoid evil. The ultimate good being the worship of Allah alone and the ultimate evil being the worship of His creation along with or instead of Allah. This fact is expressed in the final revelation as follows:

"Verily those who believe, those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), the Christians and the Sabians any who believe In Allah and the last day, and work righteousness *hall have their reward with their Lord;They will not be overcome by fear nor grief (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:62).

If only they had stood by the law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There Is from among them a party on the right course; but many of them follow a course that Is evil.". (Soorah Al-.Maa'idah 5:66)

RECOGNITION OF ALLAH

The question which arises here is, "How can all people be expected to believe in Allah given their varying- backgrounds, societies and cultures? For people to be responsible for worshipping Allah they all have to have access to knowledge of Allah. The final revelation teaches that all mankind have the recognition of Allah imprinted on their souls, a part of their very nature with which they are created.

In Soorah Al-A'raaf, Verses 172-173; Allah explained that when He created Adam, He caused all of Adam's descendants to come into existence and took a pledge from them saying, Am I not your Lord? To which they all replied, " Yes, we testify to It:'

Allah then explained why He had all of mankind bear witness that He is their creator and only true God worthy of worship. He said, "That was In case you (mankind) should say on the day of Resurrection, "Verily we were unaware of all this." That is to say, we had no idea that You Allah, were our God. No one told us that we were only supposed to worship You alone. Allah went on to explain That it was also In case you should say, "Certainly It was our ancestors who made partners (With Allah) and we are only their descendants; will You then destroy us for what those liars did?" Thus, every child is born with a natural belief in Allah and an inborn inclination to worship Him alone called in Arabic the "Fitrah".

If the child were left alone, he would worship Allah in his own way, but all children are affected by those things around them, seen or unseen.

The Prophet (PBUH) reported that Allah said, "I created my servants in the right religion but devils made them go astray". The Prophet (PBUH) also said, "Each child is born in a state of "Fitrah", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or a Zoroastrian, the way an animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any that were born mutilated?" (Collected by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

So, just as the child submits to the physical laws which Allah has put in nature, his soul also submits naturally to the fact that Allah is his Lord and Creator. But, his parents try to make him follow their own way and the child is not strong enough in the early stages of his life to resist or oppose the will of his parents. The religion which the child follows at this stage is one of custom and upbringing and Allah does not hold him to account or punish him for this religion.

Throughout people's lives from childhood until the time they die, signs are shown to them in all regions of the earth and in their own souls, until it becomes clear that there is only one true God (Allah). If the people are honest with themselves, reject their false gods and seek Allah, the way will be made easy for them but if they continually reject Allah's signs and continue to worship creation, the more difficult it will be for them to escape. For example, in the South Eastern region of the Amazon jungle in Brazil, South America, a primitive tribe erected a new hut to house their main idol Skwatch, representing the supreme God of all creation. The homage to the God, and while he was in prostration to what he had been taught was his Creator and Sustainer, a mangy old flea-ridden dog walked into the hut, The young man looked up in time to see the dog lift its hind leg and pass urine on the idol. Outraged, the youth chased the dog out of the temple, but when his rage died down he realized that the idol could not be the Lordof the universe. Allah must be elsewhere. he now had a choice to act on his knowledge and seek Allah, or to dishonestly go along with the false beliefs of his tribe. As strange as it may seem, that was a sign from Allah for that young man. It contained within it divine guidance that what he was worshipping was false.

Prophets were sent, as was earlier mentioned, to every nation and tribe to support man's natural belief in Allah and man's inborn inclination to worship Him as well as to reinforce the divine truth in the daily signs revealed by Allah. Although, in most cases, much of the prophets' teachings became distorted, portions remained which point out right and wrong. For example, the ten commandments of the Torah, their confirmation in the Gospels and the existence of laws against murder, stealing and adultery in most societies. Consequently, every soul will be held to account for its belief in Allah and its acceptance of the religion of Islam; the total submission to the will of Allah.

We pray to Allah, the exalted, to keep us on the right path to which He has guided us, and to bestow on us a blessing from Him, He is indeed the Most Merciful. Praise and gratitude be to Allah,the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be on prophet Muhammed, his Family, his companions, and those who rightly follow them.

The Eclipse between the people of faith and the people of negligence

2007-03-05T23:20:00.000+08:00

What the people whose concern is only for this world are saying about the eclipse

A scientific researcher has said: “The eclipse is a natural phenomenon which should be regarded without alarm.”

With regard to what they are actually doing, we have heard the following news:

1. Medically-approved glasses will be distributed to people so that they can enjoy these few moments.
2. One country has imported 50,000 pairs of special glasses to be used for watching the eclipse this coming Wednesday.
3. People will gather at specialized telescopes so that they will have the opportunity to see the eclipse through advanced scientific means.
4. British Airways has organized two Concorde flights to observe the eclipse this coming Wednesday. The flights will depart from Heathrow airport and head west for half the distance, then they will come back, so that the two hundred passengers will be able to see the eclipse from an altitude of 58,000 feet, travelling at twice the speed of sound. All the tickets for both flights sold out within a short period of time.
5. In some countries people have been advised to stay in their houses and not to go out in the streets at all.

This is what the people of negligence say, but what about the people of faith? Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Saheeh: Baab Al-Salaah fi Kusoof al-Shams (Chapter on prayer when the sun is eclipsed):

From Abu Bakrah who said: “We were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the sun was eclipsed. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up, dragging his cloak, and went into the mosque. We went in too and he led us in praying two rak’ahs, until the sun was uncovered again. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The sun and moon are not eclipsed for the death of anyone [or for the life of anyone], [they are two of the signs of Allaah]. So if you see that, [then get up and pray] and make du’aa’ until what happened to you is over.’” (982).

From ‘Aa’ishah who said: “The sun was eclipsed at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led the people in prayer. He stood for a long time, then he made rukoo’ for a long time, then he stood again for a long time but shorter than the first time, then he made rukoo’ for a long time but shorter than the first. Then he prostrated for a long time, then in the second rak’ah he did the same as he had done in the first. Then he finished, and the eclipse was over. He addressed the people, first praising Allaah, then he said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allaah. They do not become eclipsed for the death or life of anyone. If you see that, then pray to Allaah, say Takbeer (“Allahu akbar”), pray and give in charity.’ Then he said, ‘O Ummah of Muhammad, by Allâh there is no one more jealous than Allaah when His slave, male or female, commits zina (adultery or fornication). O Ummah of Muhammad, if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much.’” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 986)

Then Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Baab al-Nida’ bi’l-salaah jaami’ah fi’l-kusoof (Calling “al-salaatu jaam’iah (the congregational prayer is about to start)” at the time of an eclipse).

From ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allaah be pleased with them both) who said: “When the sun was eclipsed at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the call was given ‘al-salaatu jaam’iah (the congregational prayer is about to start)’.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 989).

Then Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Baab al-Ta’awwudh min ‘adhaab al-qabr fi’l-kusoof (seeking refuge from the punishment of the grave at the time of an eclipse).
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Muslimah told us from Maalik from Yahya ibn Sa’eed from ‘Amrah bint ‘Abd al-Rahmaan from ‘Aa’ishah the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that a Jewish woman came to ask her (for help) and said to her, “May Allaah protect you from the punishment of the grave.” ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Will people be punished in their graves?” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained the matter to her, seeking refuge with Allaah from that. Then one day the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out in a funeral procession, and the sun was eclipsed and he came back at Duha. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed between the apartments [of his wives], then he stood and prayed, and the people stood behind him. He stood for a long time, then he did rukoo’ for a long time, then he stood upright and stood for a long time, but less than the first time. Then he did rukoo’ for a long time, but less than the first rukoo’. Then he stood upright, then he prostrated, then he stood up and stood for a long time, but less than the previous time. Then he did rukoo’ for a long time, but less than the previous rukoo’. Then he stood for a long time, but less than the previous time, then he did rukoo’ for a long time but less than the previous time. Then he stood up, then he prostrated and finished the prayer. Then he spoke and said as much as Allaah willed he should say, then he commanded them to seek refuge with Allaah from the punishment of the grave. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 991.

Then al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Baab al-Jahr bi’l-qiraa’ah fi’l-kusoof (Reciting aloud during the eclipse prayer).
Muhammad ibn Mahraan told us that al-Waleed ibn Muslim told us that Ibn Nimr informed us that Ibn Shihaab heard from ‘Urwah from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited aloud during the eclipse prayer (Salaat al-Kusoof). When he had finished reciting, he said ‘Allaahu akbar’ and bowed. When he stood up from rukoo’ he said ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah Rabbanaa wa laka’l-hamd (Allaah hears those who praise Him, our Lord to You be praise).’ Then he recited again in Salaat al-Kusoof, four rukoo’s (bowing) in two rak’ahs and four sajdahs (prostrations). Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 1004.

We will briefly discuss below the important points made by Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar al-‘Asqallaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) in his commentary on the ahaadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari, with some adaptations and the addition of simple headings:

Solar and lunar eclipses are means used by Allaah to scare His slaves and remind them about the Day of Resurrection on which the moon will be eclipsed and the sun and moon will be rolled up

“Two signs” means two indicators. “The signs of Allaah” means things that indicate His Unity and the greatness of His Ability, or that alarm His slaves and remind them of His punishment and power. This is supported by the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid” [al-Israa’ 17:59).
“Allaah frightens His slaves with them”. In the hadeeth about the eclipse narrated by al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer and others, a reason other than that claimed by the astronomers is given. This was narrated by Ahmad, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah, and classed as saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah and al-Haakim, with the wording, “The sun and the moon do not get eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. They are two of the signs of Allaah, and when Allaah manifests Himself to any of His creation, it fears Him and humbles itself before Him.”

The hadeeth was proven saheeh by a number of scholars, and it is also saheeh according to its meaning, because light has to do with physical beauty (jamaal), but if the attribute of majesty (jalaal) is made manifest, the lights will be extinguished out of fear of Allaah. This is supported by the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust” [al-A’raaf 7:143]
This hadeeth also supports the account which we narrated from al-Taawoos, who looked at the sun when it was eclipsed and wept until he almost died, and said, “It fears Allaah more than we do.”

Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed said: perhaps some of them think that what the mathematicians say contradicts the Prophet’s words “Allaah frightens His slaves with them”. But this is not the case at all… because Allaah does some things according to the ordinary laws of the universe, and He does other things that go beyond these ordinary laws, for He is above all causes and He can override whatever natural laws He wishes. Once this is understood, those who know Allaah believe that He is able to do all manner of extraordinary things, and that He does what He wills. So when something out of the ordinary happens, they fear Allaah because of the strength of their belief. This is not to say that there may be regular instances of cause and effect, which Allaah can override if He wills. So to sum up, what the mathematicians say is correct, but this does not mean that this event is not the means of Allaah alarming His slaves.

Ruling on Salaat al-Kusoof

Al-Bukhaari’s chapter heading, “Baab al-Salaah fi Kusoof al-Shams (Chapter on Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse)” implies that it is prescribed in Islam. This is a matter on which there is scholarly consensus, but there were some differences as to the ruling and description of the prayer. The majority stated that it is Sunnah mu’akkadah (confirmed Sunnah).

The Prophet’s nervous haste at the time of the eclipse

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got up dragging his cloak.” A report narrated from Yoonus adds the word “rushing”. Muslim narrated from Asma’: “The sun was eclipsed at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he rushed nervously and put on his coat of mail, thinking that it was his cloak.” In other words, he wanted to put on his cloak, but he put on his coat of mail instead, because he was preoccupied with the eclipse.

Lengthening the prayer until the eclipse is over

“Until [the eclipse] was over.” This indicates that the prayer should be made lengthy until the eclipse is over. Al-Tahhaawi replied that the phrase “offer salaah and make du’aa’” indicates that if the salaam at the end of the salaah is said before the eclipse is over, one should keep busy making du’aa’ until it is over. This was also stated by Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed, who said that the aim of both (salaah and du’aa’) is the same, and that the prayer does not need to be made long or repeated.

“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said ‘The sun…’” According to a report narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah, “When the eclipse was over, he addressed us and said…” This indicates that the end of the eclipse does not mean that there should be no khutbah or speech by the imaam.

Refutation of jaahili beliefs concerning eclipses

“For the death of anyone”. According to another report: “That was because a son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who was called Ibraaheem had died, so the people said it was because of that.” According to another report, “The people said, the sun is eclipsed because of the death of Ibraaheem.” According to another report: “The sun was eclipsed at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he rushed out to the mosque, dragging his garment. He kept praying until the eclipse was over, and when it was over he said, ‘The people are claiming that the sun and moon only become eclipsed for the death of some great person. This is not the case…’” This hadeeth refutes the belief of the people of the jaahiliyyah, who thought that the heavenly bodies had some influence over the earth. This is like what was said in the hadeeth about asking for rain, “They say that our rain was foretold by such and such.” Al-Khattaabi said, during the Jaahiliyyah, they used to believe that an eclipse meant that something would happen on earth, such as a death or some harmful event, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught them that this was a false belief, and that the sun and moon were two created entities that were subjugated to the control of Allaah, they had no power over anything else and were unable to protect themselves.”

“(nor) the life of anyone”. The reason why life or birth is mentioned is in order to refute the false notion of those who say that just because an eclipse is not the cause of loss is not to say that it is not the cause of something positive.

Eclipses demonstrate the repugnant nature of the idea of worshipping the sun or moon. Some scholars interpreted the command in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“but prostrate to Allaah Who created them [the sun and moon]” [Fussilat 41:37] as referring to Salaat al-Kusoof, because this is the time when it is most appropriate to turn away from worshipping them, because of the changes and shortcomings that are manifest in them at such times, and Allaah is far above such things, may He be glorified and exalted.

Timing of Salaat al-Kusoof

“So stand up and pray” indicates that there is no specific timing for Salaat al-Kusoof, because this prayer is connected to seeing the eclipse, and an eclipse could happen at any time of day. This was the view of al-Shaafa’i and those who followed him… What is meant is that this act of worship should be done before the eclipse is over, and the scholars agreed that the prayer should not be done once the event has passed.

History of eclipses during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
“The day when Ibraaheem died” refers to the son of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The majority of biographers and scholars of Seerah stated that he died in 10 AH, and it was said that he died in Rabee’ al-Awwal or in Ramadaan.

Most of the scholars stated that this happened on the tenth of the month, or on the fourteenth.

What people should do

“So hasten” means, “seek refuge” or “turn to”, and implies that people should rush to do what is commanded here. Turning to Allaah at times of fear by making du’aa’ and seeking His forgiveness will wipe out the sins that have happened, which hopefully will remove the cause of the event which has brought fear. Sins are the cause of trials and punishment in this world and the next. We ask Allaah for His mercy and forgiveness.

“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got up in haste, thinking that the Hour had come” means he feared that the Hour was at hand.

Perhaps he feared that the eclipse was a precursor to some of the Signs of the Hour, such as the sun rising from the west. It is not impossible that between the eclipse and the sun’s rising from the west many of the things that were mentioned could happen one after another. We should remember the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And the matter of the Hour is not but as the twinkling of the eye, or even nearer.” [al-Nahl 16:77].

In order to explain how serious the issue of eclipses is, he explained to those of his ummah who witness such a thing how they should fear Allaah and hasten to pray, especially if that happens after the Signs of the Hour or most of them have come to pass.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “These are signs which are sent by Allaah”, then he said: “But Allaah makes His slaves afraid by means of them.” This is in accordance with the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And We sent not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid (of destruction)” [al-Israa’ 17:59]

It is understood from this that the command to hasten to remember Allaah, make du’aa’, seek forgiveness, etc. is not confined only to solar and lunar eclipses, because the signs of Allaah are more general than that.

Giving charity at the time of an eclipse

In the ahaadeeth that were narrated concerning eclipses, there is the command to pray, to give charity, to remember Allaah, to make du’aa’, etc. They are listed in order of priority.

Chapter on seeking refuge with Allaah from the punishment of the grave during an eclipse
Al-Bukhaari said, “Baab al-Ta’awwudh Billaah min ‘adhaab al-qabr fi’l-kusoof (Chapter on seeking refuge with Allaah from the punishment of the grave during an eclipse)”. Ibn al-Muneer said in his comment:

“The reason why one should seek refuge at the time of an eclipse is that the daytime darkness that occurs during an eclipse is like the darkness in the grave even during the day. So one is reminded of a thing by something that is similar to it. So we should fear the one as we fear the other, and from this we learn that we should adhere to that which can save us from the calamities of the Hereafter.

What he recited during the prayer

“He stood for a long time.” According to the report of Ibn Shihaab, “He recited a lengthy recitation.” At the end of the prayer, according to other reports, “he recited a long soorah.” According to the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas which appears four chapters later, “he recited something as long as Soorat al-Baqarah in the first Rak’ah.” Something similar was narrated by Abu Dawood via Sulaymaan ibn Yassaar from ‘Urwah, in which it is added that “in the first standing of the second rak’ah, he recited something as long as Aal ‘Imraan.”

How the prayer is done

“Then he stood up and stood for a long time.” According to the report of Ibn Shihaab, “Then he said ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah (Allaah listens to the one who praises Him)’. Another report at the end of the chapter on eclipses adds the phrase, ‘Rabbanaa wa laka’l-hamd (our Lord to You be praise).” From this it is understood that it is mustahabb to recite the prescribed phrases (dhikr) when standing up at the beginning of the second standing in the first rak’ah. Some of the later Shaafa’is found this problematic because they thought that it referred to the standing for recitation (the first standing), not the standing after rukoo’. Their evidence for this was the scholarly consensus among those who said that the rukoo’ in each rak’ah should last longer than the recitation of al-Faatihah, although Muhammad ibn Muslimah al-Maaliki differed from them in that regard. The response to this is that Salaat al-Kusoof is unique and there is no room for qiyaas (analogy) in this case. Everything that it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did in this prayer is prescribed for it, because it is in a class of its own. So the majority refuted those who compared it to naafil prayers and thus said that the second rukoo’ should not be added. When there is a text, qiyaas diminishes in significance. Salaat al-Kusoof is more akin to Salaat al-‘Eed and the like, prayers which are in a class of their own among the Naafil prayers. Salaat al-Janaazah (funeral prayer) is distinguished by the absence of rukoo’ and sujood, Salaat al-Eedayn (Eid prayer) by its extra Takbeeraat, and Salaat al-Khawf (fear prayer) by extra actions and not necessarily facing the Qiblah. By the same token, Salaat al-Kusoof is distinguished by having an extra rukoo’.

“He made the rukoo’ long.” The scholars agreed that no Qur’aan is to be recited in this rukoo’, only Dhikr such as Tasbeeh (“Subhaan Allaah”), Takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”) and so on.

“Then he finished” i.e., finished the prayer. “And the eclipse was over.” According to the report of Ibn Shihaab, “The eclipse ended before he had finished.” Al-Nisaa’i said, “Then he recited the Tashahhud and said the Salaam [i.e., ended the prayer].”

“Chapter on lengthy sujood in (salaat) al-Kusoof.” The saheeh ahaadeeth prove that the sujood should be long.

“I never did any sujood that was longer than in that prayer.” This is what is said in the hadeeth. According to another report: “I never did any sujood that was longer than that sujood.” Muslim added: “And I never did any rak’ah that was longer than that.” We have already quoted the report of ‘Urwah from ‘Aa’ishah, “Then he prostrated and made the prostration long.”

The two shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim) narrated from Abu Moosa that “[these were] the longest qiyaam (standing), rukoo’ (bowing) and sujood (prostration) that I have ever seen.” Abu Dawood and al-Nisaa’i reported from Samurah, “As if it were the longest sujood in any prayer in which he ever led us.” From all of these ahaadeeth it is clear that the sujood in Salaat al-Kusoof should be made long, as is the case with the standing and rukoo’.

Muslim reported from Jaabir that “His sujood was like his rukoo’.” This is the madhhab of Ahmad and Ishaaq, and is one of the two opinions of al-Shaafa’i. It was confirmed by the scholars from the hadeeth of his Companions, and this was the view of al-Nawawi.
Note: In the hadeeth of Jaabir narrated by Muslim, which I referred to above, it says that the qiyaam (standing) which was followed by the sujood was made long. The wording is, “Then he did rukoo’ and made it long, then he prostrated.”

Al-Nisaa’i, Ibn Khuzaymah and others narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr, “Then he did rukoo’ and bowed for so long that it was said, he will never stand up. Then he stood up and stood for so long that it was said, he will never prostrate. Then he prostrated for so long that it was said, he will never sit up. Then he sat up and sat for so long that it was said, he will never prostrate, then he prostrated…” The hadeeth is saheeh, and I have not found anything in any report that indicates that the sitting between the two prostrations should be long, apart from this report.

“Chapter: the first rak’ah in (salaat) al-kusoof should be longer.”

In this chapter it says: “Then he stood up for a long time, but it was shorter than the previous standing.” This was reported by al-Ismaa’eeli with the wording, “The first was longer than what came after.” This contains evidence for those who say that the first standing of the second rak’ah should be shorter than the last standing of the first rak’ah… So each standing should be shorter than the one which came before. What also makes this view more likely to be correct is the fact that if what was meant by the phrase “the previous standing” was the first standing in the first rak’ah only, then the second and third standing would be omitted and no reference would be made to how long they should be. The other interpretation makes more sense. And Allaah knows best.

The reports narrated on how Salaat al-Kusoof should be done

From these reports it is understand that Salaat al-Kusoof takes a particular form: it is longer than usual in the standing etc., and there is an extra rukoo’ in each rak’ah.

In some manuscripts of al-Bukhaari there is a chapter heading, “Baab subb al-mar’ah ‘ala ra’sihaa al-ma’ idha ataala al-imaam al-qiyaam fi’l-rak’ah al-oola) A woman pouring water over her head if the imaam makes the first standing of the first rak’ah very long)” – i.e., if a person is about to faint whilst praying. This also indicates that this action does not invalidate the prayer.

The khutbah

“He addressed the people.” This indicates that it is prescribed for there to be a khutbah on the occasion of an eclipse.

It also indicates that if the eclipse ends, this does not mean the khutbah does not have to be given; in contrast, if the eclipse ends before the prayer is started, then neither the prayer nor the khutbah should be done.

“He praised Allaah.” Al-Nisaa’i added, in the hadeeth of Samurah: “And he bore witness that he was the slave and Messenger of Allaah.”

“Remember Allaah.” According to the report of al-Kashmeehni, “Call on Allaah [make du’aa’].”
“By Allaah, there is no one” – the oath serves to re-affirm what is said, even though those who were listening had no doubts about it.

“There is no one who is more jealous” this refers to the protectiveness and pride, which one originally has towards one's wife and family.

Since they were commanded to ward off calamity by remembering Allaah, making du’aa’, praying and giving in charity, it is appropriate to deter them from committing the sins which are the cause of the calamity befalling them. Zina (adultery or fornication) is singled out because it is the most serious of sins in that regard. Or it was said that this was because this is the most repugnant of sins and has the worst effect on people and stirs up anger, hence it is appropriate to scare them in this situation by reminding them of the punishment of the jealous Lord, may He be glorified and exalted.

“O Ummah of Muhammad.” This is because here he is in a position of warning and alarming them. Another example is the phrase, “O Faatimah daughter of Muhammad, I cannot protect you from Allaah in the slightest…” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) started his khutbah with an oath to reaffirm what he was going to say, even though there is no doubt about its truth.

We may also understand from the phrase “O ummah of Muhammad” that the preacher should not use his preaching to exalt himself, rather he should be extremely humble because this is more effective in helping his audience to benefit from what he is saying.

“If you knew what I know” means, the great power of Allaah and His vengeance upon the sinners.

“You would laugh little” means, you would give up laughing and would laugh very rarely, because of the overwhelming fear and grief.

The hadeeth indicates that the khutbah should be more frightening than lenient, because mentioning leniency is more in tune with people’s hearts which are naturally inclined towards their own desires, but the wise doctor treats an ailment with its opposite, not with something that will only make it worse.

“Chapter: the imaam’s khutbah on the occasion of an eclipse.” The scholars differed with regard to the khutbah. Al-Shaafa’i, Ishaaq and most of the scholars of hadeeth regarded it as mustahabb. Ibn Qudaamah said: “We did not hear anything to that effect from Ahmad.” The author of al-Hidaayah, one of the Hanafis, said: “There is no khutbah on the occasion of an eclipse because nothing to that effect was transmitted.” … Some of them responded that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not intend to give a khutbah exclusively because of the eclipse, but because he wanted to explain to them what was wrong with the belief that eclipses happen because of a person’s death. The saheeh ahaadeeth describe the khutbah and its features such as praising Allaah and preaching, etc. The ahaadeeth did not refer only to the reason for the eclipse. The basic principle of Islam is to follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and the details are only to be proven with the proper evidence (daleel). Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed considered this interpretation to be weak and said: “The khutbah cannot be confined to a certain idea after you have done what is required, i.e., praising Allaah and preaching. Everything that has been mentioned concerning explaining the causes of the eclipse and other things is among the purpose of the khutbah. So we should follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the imaam should mention that in his khutbah on the occasion of the eclipse.” Yes, Ibn Qudaamah thought that Khutbat al-Kusoof is like Khutbat al-Jumu’ah (Friday sermon) and Khutbat al-‘Eedayn (Eid sermon), but there is nothing to indicate that in the ahaadeeth that have been mentioned.
(al-Bukhaari 988)

Is it obligatory to pray Salaat al-Kusoof in congregation?

“To the prayer” means to a specific, known prayer. From this it is understood that praying in congregation is not essential for it to be valid, because the hadeeth refers to him rushing and hastening. (But praying in congregation is indicated by the Prophet’s actions, so it is Sunnah, but it is OK for a Muslim to pray Salaat al-Kusoof individually, male or female, settled or travelling).

Chapter: Salaat al-Kusoof in the mosque

This is understood from the phrase “he passed between the apartments”, because the apartments were the homes of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which were attached to the mosque, as has been stated… According to Muslim the wording is: “I came out among some women between the apartments and into the mosque, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came from his funeral escort to the place where he usually prayed…” The funeral escort was because his son Ibraaheem had died… When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came back (from the funeral), he went to the mosque.. If it were not the Sunnah to pray Salaat al-Kusoof in the mosque, praying it in the desert it may make it easier to see when the eclipse ends. And Allaah knows best.

Women may pray Salaat al-Kusoof with men

This is a refutation of those who say that this is not allowed and that women should pray individually… in al-Mudawwanah it says: women should pray at home and only old women should come out (to the mosque). According to al-Shaafa’i everyone should come out apart from women who are stunningly beautiful (because they may tempt men).

Remembering Allaah at the time of the eclipse with all kinds of Islamically prescribed phrases
“and remember Allaah”. According to the report of al-Kashmeehni, “and remember Him” – with the pronoun referring to Allaah. “Allaah frightens His slaves with it.” This is encouraging us to seek forgiveness at the time of the eclipse and at other times, because this is one of the things that can ward off calamity.

What the Muslim historians said

In al-Bidayyah wa’l-Nihaayah it says:

“In Jumaada al-Aakhirah (453 AH), two days before the end of the month, the sun was eclipsed totally, with its entire disk being obscured. The people stayed like that for four hours, until the stars appeared and the birds fled to their nests and stopped flying because it was so dark.”
Elsewhere in the book, the author (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“On the morning of Sunday, the twenty-eighth of the month mentioned (Jumaada al-Aakhirah), the sun was eclipsed before noon.”

Conclusion

What is our attitude on the medical aspects?

It is wise not to stare at the sun during the eclipse, because it has been proven medically that this is harmful. There is nothing wrong with eye doctors being present in their clinics and hospitals to deal with emergency cases, as this is a reasonable precaution. But people should not ignore this great act of worship – Salaat al-Kusoof, with which Allaah frightens His slaves – for the sake of enjoying looking at the eclipse with special glasses or using other instruments or cameras. This is the height of negligence on this occasion.

People are afraid of the dangers of ultra-violet rays because of the complications that may cause and the possibility that they may burn the eye and destroy its cells and damage the lens. They fear that infra-red rays may burn the eye without a person even feeling it.

We should fear the Day when eyes will burnt when a person can feel it!

O Allaah, make us fear You and make us content to put our trust in You. Give us the strength to obey You and do not humiliate us by letting us disobey You. Help us to remember You and to thank You and to worship You properly. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

20 Exam Tips for Students

2007-03-02T19:06:00.001+08:00

Praise be to Allaah and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger and upon his family and companions.

The Muslim student puts his trust in Allaah when facing the tests of this world, and he seeks His help whilst following the prescribed means, in accordance with the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “The strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to attain that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” (Saheeh Muslim, hadeeth no. 2664)

Among those means are the following:

- Turning to Allaah by making du’aa’ in any way that is prescribed in Islam, such as saying, “Rabbiy ishrah li sadri wa yassir li amri (O my Lord, expand my chest and make things easy for me).”
- Getting used to sleeping early and going to exams on time.
- Preparing all required or permitted equipment such as pens, rulers and setsquares, calculators and watches, because being well prepared helps one to answer questions.
- Reciting the du’aa’ for leaving the house: “Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah. Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya (In the name of Allaah, I put my trust in Allaah, and there is no strength and no power except with Allaah. O Allaah, I seek refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, lest I slip (commit a sin unintentionally) or be tripped, lest I oppress or be oppressed, lest I behave foolishly or be treated foolishly).” Do not forget to seek your parents’ approval, for their du’aa’ for you will be answered.
- Mention the name of Allaah before you start, for mentioning the name of Allaah is prescribed when beginning any permissible action; this brings blessing, and seeking the help of Allaah is one of the means of strength.
- Fear Allaah with regard to your classmates, and do not be affected by their anxiety or fear just before the exam, for anxiety is a contagious disease. Instead, make them feel optimistic by saying good words as prescribed in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was optimistic when he heard the name of Suhayl (which means “easy”) and he said: “Things have been made easy for you.” He used to like to hear the words ‘Yaa Raashid, when he went out for any purpose. So be optimistic that you and your brothers will pass this exam.
- Remembering Allaah (dhikr) dispels anxiety and tension. If something is too difficult for you, then pray to Allaah to make it easy for you. Whenever Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) found something too difficult to understand, he would say, “O You Who taught Ibraaheem, teach me; O You Who caused Sulaymaan to understand, cause me to understand.”
- Choose a good place to sit during the exam, if you can. Keep your back straight, and sit on the chair in a healthy manner.
- Look over the exam first. Studies advise spending 10% of the exam time in reading the questions carefully, noting the important words and dividing one’s time between the questions.
- Plan to answer the easy questions first, then the difficult ones. Whilst reading the questions, write notes and ideas which you can use in your answers later.
- Answer questions according to importance.
- Start by answering the easy questions which you know. Then move on to the questions which carry high marks, and leave till the end the questions to which you do not know the answers, or which you think will take a long time to produce an answer or which do not carry such high marks.
- Take your time to answer, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Deliberation is from Allaah and haste is from the Shaytaan.” (A hasan hadeeth. Saheeh al-Jaami, 3011).
- Think carefully about the answer and choose the right answer when answering multiple-choice questions. Deal with them in the following manner. If you are sure that you have chosen the right answer, then beware of waswasah (insinuating whispers from the Shaytaan). If you are not sure, then start by eliminating the wrong or unlikely answers, then choose the correct answer based on what you think is most likely to be correct. If you guessed at a correct answer then do not change it unless you are sure that it is wrong – especially if you will lose marks for a wrong answer. Research indicates that the correct answer is usually that which the student thinks of first.
- In written exams, collect your thoughts before you start to answer. Write an outline for your answer with some words which will indicate the ideas which you want to discuss. Then number the ideas in the sequence in which you want to present them.
- Write the main points of your answer at the beginning of the line, because this is what the examiner is looking for, and he may not see what he is looking for if it is in the middle of the page and he is in a hurry.
- Devote 10% of the time for reviewing your answers. Take your time in reviewing, especially in mathematical problems and writing numbers. Resist the desire to hand in the exam papers quickly, and do not let the fact that some people are leaving early bother you. They may be among the people who have handed in their papers too early.
- If you discover after the exam that you answered some questions incorrectly, then take that as a lesson in the importance of being well prepared in the future, and not rushing to answer questions. Accept the will and decree of Allaah and do not fall prey to frustration and despair. Remember the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such.’ Rather say, ‘Qadar Allaah wa maa sha’a kaan (the decree of Allaah and what He wills happened),’ for saying ‘if only’ opens the door for the Shaytaan.” (Saheeh Muslim, and the first part of this hadeeth was mentioned above).
- Note that cheating is haraam whether it is in foreign language tests or any other tests. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever cheats is not one of us.” It is wrongdoing and it is a haraam means of attaining a degree or certificate, etc., that you have no right to. The consensus is that cheating is a kind of cooperation in sin and transgression. So do without that which is haraam, and Allaah will suffice you from His bounty. Reject all offers of haraam things that come to you from others. Whoever gives up a thing for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better. You have to denounce and resist evil, and tell the authorities about any such thing that you see during the exam, or before or after it. This is not the forbidden kind of slander rather it is denouncing evil which is obligatory.
Advise those who buy or sell questions or post them on the Internet etc., or who prepare cheat notes. Tell them to fear Allaah, and tell them of the ruling on what they are doing and on the money they earn from that. Tell them that the time they are spending in preparing these haraam things, if they spent it in studying, or answering previous exams, or helping one another to understand the subject before the exam, that would be better for them than doing these haraam things.
- Remember what you have prepared for the Hereafter, and the questions of the examination in the grave, and how to be saved on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise will indeed have succeeded.

We ask Allaah to make us succeed in this world and cause us to be among those who are victorious and saved in the Hereafter, for He is the All-Hearing Who answers prayer.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?pg=article&ln=eng&article_id=75

WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF GOD, AND THE ENEMIES OF ISLAM?

2007-02-28T01:41:00.000+08:00

Hypocrites

*Pretending to be Muslims but they are not really. Seek to destroy Islaam and sow hatred and division amongst the Muslims. The hypocrites follow the disbelievers and grant their loyalty to the US and Zionists and condone Israel.
They have a lot of excuses and explanations to do against what Islam has obliged on themselves like the Islamic Law and injunctions. Female hypocrites for example are against polygamy and disagree with inheritance law set in the Quraan. They also are against hijab (hejab, coverings of body and head with veil and loose garments).

The hypocrites are ashamed to be associated with true Muslims. But they revel at being liked and honored by the kuffar.

Even though they say they believe in Allah and Islam, in their hearts is animosity and grudge against Islam and the Muslims.

The hypocrites are also blocking others from the straight path of Islam. In their society, they let loose vices and evils, but block others from good deeds and learning Islam.

There are homosexuals for example, who pretend to embrace Islam and spread the false argument by saying that it is not evil and God did not forbid homosexuality. These gays want to make it so that being a Muslim and homosexual could exist at the same time.

Freemasons
*Even though Freemasonry is not a religion, and its membership is opened to anybody with any religion, its agenda and secrecy have been exposed. The Freemasons instigated World Wars. It originated from the Knights Templar, a satanic cult from Jacques de Molay, and practised occultism, Kabbalah, and strange rituals, and today Masons although amongst others do charity works and recruit royalties and elites, their intention is clear that they want to dominate the world over.

If you read the writings of Masonic ideas, you will find them a strange lot. They practised sorcery and Kabbalah inside the `temples' or commonly called the Grand Lodges.
A large but elitist organization like this can only persevere for high intention and grand designs of dark nature.

There are many reports (not from the Muslims but the society where Masons are elites) against the Masonic wrongdoings - paedophilia, human sacrifice, worshipping Lucifer and idols, murders, rapes, obstruction of justice in courts, involved in drug trafficking, blackmailing, and many evils.

It is from their strange ideology and occultism that these evils are comitted by the Masons, whether just for their individual pleasures, or in their own temples for fulfilling secret rituals.

Examples:
http://www.google.com/search?q=freemasons+rape
http://www.google.com/search?q=freemasons+SATAN
http://www.google.com/search?q=freemasons+paedophile

Occultist

Kabbalah practitioners

Sorcery practitioners (also Black Magic)

The Anti-Christ (Dajjal) and its systems and soldiers

The Pharaoh

Modern-day `little Pharaohs' - dictators, tyrants, who oppress the people, murder and assasinate oppositions, cmmit atrocities and tortures and imprison dissents and oppositions (examples: Shah Iran, Pinochet, Marcos, Pol Pot, Hitler)
(but they were supported by the US and in turn they condone Israel)

Atheists

Secularists

Idol worshippers

Satanists, satan worshippers

Occultists

Jewish rabbis and Christian priests who lie about God, hiding the truth, refusing to listen to the teachings of Islam, and finance the missionaries to proselytizing Muslims to be apostates

Apostates of Islam

Zionists (Jews and Christian Zionists supporters)

Israel

The US Military

The Bush family - using his Presidency and US Military to invade Iraq and Afghanistan
(Bush is a member of Skulls and Bones, a secret old-boys network akin to Freemasons)

The gangsters

Mafioso (Mafia)

Yakuzas (Japanese Mafia)

Nazis

White supremacists

South African apartheid regime and its legacy

Communists propounding atheism and hatred towards belief in God and religions and cultures
(Example: North Korea - they hated their own Korean heritage but they imported gymnastics and put their women and girls in gymnastics suits and call it progress)

Feminists - who lie about the treatment of women in Islaam, saying that Islamic scholars are bunch of misogynists Talebans
(and what is the problem with Talebans other than trying to build their country with Islamic Syariah, and bringing orders to the war-torn country)

Former Soviet Union

Russia - the war on Chechen Muslims are still going on

Homosexuals

The anti-family

Usurers
World Bank
IMF
Usurer banks

Any person or organization that is enemy to mankind, racist, racial supremacist

Any singer, musician, actor, or film producer who spread lies, filth, and anti Islam propaganda via songs, lyrics, musics, movies, dramas, TV shows

Any writer - by writing filth and lies
(Example: Salman Rushdie who wrote the Satanic Verse)

Anybody or any organization who print false Quran (example: The True Furqan, sponsored by amongs others, the Wine Journal)

Anybody who ridicules and slander Islaam, the Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), any Prophet, Mary the mother of Jesus
(example: some Bible has it that Prophet Lot (peace be upon him) got drunk and committed adultery with own daughters, Prophet David (pbuh) took

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOKS ADDRESSED BY GOD IN THE QURAAN?

2007-02-25T01:53:00.000+08:00

People of the Books are the Jews and Nazareans.

The Jews have Torah, sent to Prophet Moses (pbuh).

The Christians claimed to have Bibles which was from Prophet Jesus (pbuh). However, the Bible is not the holy book meant by God, it was the Injeel (Gospel), and it does not have Trinity doctrine or any deviancy practiced by Christians today. Even the name Christianity is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible nor Gospel.

The problem with the People of the Book began when they refused to acknowledge Muhammad (pbuh) as the last Prophet sent to mankind as Messenger of God.

Jews refused Muhammad because he was not a Jew, he was Arab and he started from amongst the Arabs and the metropolitan city of Medina and Mecca. There were Jews in these cities but because of their own faults and bad deeds, they were expelled. Just because Muhammad was an Arab that Jews refused even though it is clear in their book about the characteristics of the Last Prophet ! And Jews are quick to label anybody else as `anti-Semite' - Arabs are Semites too, descendent of Ishmael and Abraham. Jews are descendants of Israel and Abraham (peace be upon them).

During the time of Prophets Moses and Aaron (pbut) the Jews were divided into two - those loyal to God and the Prophets, and those who constantly breached the laws and committed excesses, transgressed and did mischiefs. Usury and idolatry, sorcery, lies and deceptions. And the rabbis took the Talmud to replace Torah (the holy book), and wrote many strange and evil teachings in the Talmud adhered by Jews (Judaism) until today. The reason for Zionism and Israeli atrocities are motivated by Talmudic teachings.

The Christians on the other hand, took Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as the God, or Son of God, they invented Trinity out of nothing!

As Muslims, we are required to call them `Kaafir' for their disbelief in Islaam, Muhammad, the Quraan, and for their hatred and enmity towards Islam.

Even though Jews as you can see on TV are very religious with their own peculiar dresses and their form of prayers, they regard God as `employer' who can be slandered, and they invent things and claim it is God's commands, for example, the state of Israel. And Zionism is the worst product of Jewry.

Christians are transgressing by associating God with His Creator, by saying Prophet Jesus is son of God, and by worshipping Jesus, and take the cross as their point of worship.

But please know that God is the Most Knowing, and Wise - He will accept the repentance of Jews and Christians if they discard their deviancy and truthfully embrace Islaam and become devoted Muslims.

If you are really interested in Islaam, then don't let the Jewish rabbis and Christian priests and evangelists mess with your mind any longer or stop you from the straight Path. The Muslims of the world welcome you with open arm, and we are ready to protect your honor and assist you in any possible way.

The excerpt from the Quraan below, is meant to the Jews and Christians

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful

[5.68] Say: 'People of the Book, you are not upon anything until you establish the Torah and the Gospel and that which is sent down to you from your Lord.'

And that which is sent down to you (the Quraan to Prophet Muhammad) from your Lord will surely increase the tyranny and disbelief of many of them. But do not grieve for the unbelieving nation.

[5.69] Those who believe, Jews, Sabaeans, and Nazarenes - whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good shall neither fear, nor shall they sorrow (as long as they do not reject any of the prophets).

[5.70] We took a covenant with the Children of Israel and sent forth Messengers to them.

But whenever a Messenger came to them with that which did not suit their fancies they belied some and killed others.

[5.71] They thought there would be no trial; so they were blind and deaf. Then Allah turned towards them; then again many of them were blind and deaf. And Allah is the Seer of what they do.

[5.72] The unbelievers are those who say: 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary .'

But the Messiah said: 'Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.'

He who associates anything with Allah, Allah has indeed forbidden Paradise to him, and his abode shall be in the Fire. The harmdoers shall have no helpers.

[5.73] Indeed those who say: 'Allah is the third of the Trinity ’ became unbelievers.

There is but One God. If they do not desist in what they say, a painful punishment will afflict those of them that disbelieve.

[5.74] Will they not turn to Allah in repentance and ask His forgiveness? He is Forgiving, Merciful.

[5.75] The Messiah, the son of Mary, was not except a Messenger, other Messengers had gone before him. His mother was in the state of sincerity, they both ate food.

See how We make plain to them Our signs. Then, see how perverted they are.

[5.76] Say: 'Will you worship instead of Allah that which owns neither harm, nor benefit for you? Allah is the Hearer, Knower.'

[5.77] Say: 'People of the Book! Do not exaggerate your religion, other than the truth, and do not follow the desires of a people who went astray before, and led many astray, and, (once again) have gone astray from the Straight Path.'

[5.78] Those who disbelieved of the Children of Israel were cursed by the tongue of (Prophets) David and Jesus, the son of Mary, because they disobeyed and transgressed.

[5.79] They did not forbid one another from the wrongdoing they were committing. Evil is what they were doing.

[5.80] You see many of them taking the unbelievers as guides. Evil is that to which their souls forwarded them, that Allah is angered against them, and in the punishment they shall live for ever.

[5.81] Had they believed in Allah and the Prophet (Muhammad) and that which is sent down to him, they would not have taken them (unbelievers) as guides. But many of them are evildoers.

[5.82] You will find that the most people in enmity to the believers are the Jews and idolaters, and that the nearest in affection to the believers are those who say: 'We are Nazarenes.' That is because amongst them there are priests and monks; and because they are not proud.

[5.83] When they listen to that which was sent down to the Messenger, you will see their eyes fill with tears as they recognize its truth. They say: 'Lord, we believe. Write us among the witnesses.

[5.84] Why should we not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come down to us? Why should we not hope for admission among the righteous?'

[5.85] For their words Allah has rewarded them with Gardens underneath which rivers flow, where they shall live for ever. Such is the recompense of the righteous.

[5.86] But those who disbelieve and belie Our verses shall be the companions of Hell.

[61.5] And when Moses, said to his nation: 'Why do you harm me, when you know that I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you?' But when they swerved away Allah caused their hearts to swerve. Allah never guides impious people.

[61.6] And when (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary said: 'Children of Israel, I am sent to you by Allah to confirm the Torah that was before me, and to give news of a Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) who will come after me whose name shall be Ahmad (Paraclete, Perekleitos).'
Yet when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: 'This is clear sorcery.'

[61.7] And who does greater evil than he who forges a lie against Allah, when he is being called to Islam? Allah does not guide the harm-doing people.

[61.8] They seek to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths; but Allah will complete His Light, much as the unbelievers dislike it.

[61.9] It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that He raises it above all religions, much as the unbelievers dislike it.

[61.14] Believers, be the helpers of Allah. When (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary said to the disciples: 'Who will be my helpers unto Allah?' The disciples replied: 'We will be the helpers of Allah.' A party of the Children of Israel believed, and a party disbelieved. So, We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they overcame.

[4.171] People of the Book, do not exaggerate your religion. Do not say about Allah except the truth.

Indeed, the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, is only a Messenger (and Prophet) of Allah, and His Word (Be) which He gave to Mary, and a (created) spirit by Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers and do not say: 'Trinity.'

Refrain, it is better for you. Allah is only One God. Exaltations to Him that He should have son!
To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth, it is sufficient that Allah is the Guardian.

[4.172] The Messiah would not despise being a worshipper of Allah, nor would the angels who are near. Whosoever despises worshipping Him, and becomes proud, He will surely assemble them all to Him.

[4.173] As for those who believe and did good deeds, He will pay them in full their wages, and He will increase them from His Bounty. As for those who despise and became proud, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will find neither a guide nor a helper for themselves, other than Allah.

[2.130] And who has no desire for the religion of Abraham, except he who fooled himself? We chose him in this world, and in the Everlasting world, he shall be among the righteous.

[2.131] When his Lord said to him: 'Submit,' he answered: 'I have submitted to the Lord of the Worlds.'

[2.132] Abraham charged his children with this, and so did Jacob, saying: 'My sons, Allah has chosen for you the religion. Do not die except being submissive (Muslims).'

[2.133] Or, were you witnesses when death came to Jacob! He said to his children: 'What will you worship after me?' They replied: 'We will worship your God and the God of your forefathers, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, the One God. To Him, we are submissive.'

[2.134] That was a nation that has passed away. Theirs is what they earned, and yours what you have earned. You shall not be questioned about what they did.

[2.135] They say: 'Be Jews or Nazarenes and you shall be guided.' Say: 'No, rather the Creed of Abraham, the upright one. He was not among the idolaters.'

[2.136] Say: 'We believe in Allah and that which is sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Moses and Jesus and the Prophets from their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them, and to Him we are submissive (Muslims).'

[2.137] If they believe as you have believed they shall be guided; if they reject it, they shall surely be in clear dissension. Allah will suffice you. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

[2.138] The (indelible) marking of Allah. And who marks better than Allah! And for Him we are worshippers.

[2.139] Say: 'Would you dispute with us about Allah, who is our Lord and your Lord? Our deeds belong to us and your deeds belong to you. We are sincere to Him.'

[2.140] Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, were Jews or Nazarenes!

Say: 'Who knows better, you or Allah? Who is more unjust than he who hides a testimony received from Allah? And Allah is not inattentive of what you do.'

The Obvious Existence of God

2007-02-24T14:35:00.000+08:00

From the moment man opens his eyes to this world a great order surrounds him. He needs oxygen to survive. It is interesting that the atmosphere of the planet on which he lives provides more than just the adequate amount of oxygen he needs. This way, he breathes without difficulty. For the existence of life on this planet, the existence of a source of heat is essential. In response to this need, the sun is located just at the right distance to emit just the exact amount of heat and energy man needs.

Man needs nourishment to survive. Every corner of the world abounds in astonishingly diversified provisions. Likewise, man needs water. Surprisingly, three-fourths of the planet is covered with water. Man needs shelter, and in this world, there is land on which it is suitable to build and all sorts of materials to make shelters.

These are only a few among billions of details making life possible on earth. In brief, man lives on a planet perfectly designed for his survival. This is certainly a planet "created for human beings".

A person's interpretation of the world rests on "acquired methods of thought." That is, he thinks in the way he has been taught, or, less kindly, the way in which he is indoctrinated. Under this misguidance, he often dismisses all the aforementioned as "trivial realities." However, if he does not side-step the matter, and start questioning the conditions making our existence possible, he will surely step out of the boundaries of habitual thinking and start to think:

How does the atmosphere serve as a protective ceiling for the earth?

How does each one of the billions of cells in the human body know and perform its individual tasks?

How does this extraordinary ecological balance exist on earth?

A person seeking answers to these questions surely proceeds on the right path. He does not remain insensitive to things happening around him, and doesn't plead ignorance about the extraordinary nature of the world. A person who asks questions, who reflects on and gives answers to these questions will realise that on every inch of the planet, a plan and an order reigns:

How did the flawless order in the whole universe come into being?

Who provided the delicate balances in the world?

How did living beings, incredibly diversified in nature, emerge?

Keeping oneself occupied with relentless research to answer these questions results in a clear awareness that everything in the universe, its order, each living being and structure is a component of a plan, a product of design. Every detail, the excellent structure of an insect's wing, the system enabling a tree to carry tons of water to its topmost branches, the order of planets, and the ratio of gases in the atmosphere, are all unique examples of perfection.

In every detail of the infinitely varied world, man finds his Creator. God, the owner of everything in the whole universe, introduces Himself to man through the flawless design of His creation. Everything surrounding us, the birds in flight, our beating hearts, the birth of a child or the existence of the sun in the sky, manifest the power of God and His creation. And what man must do is to understand this fact.

These purposes owe their existence to the fact that everything has been created. An intelligent person notices that plan, design and wisdom exist in every detail of the infinitely varied world. This draws him to recognition of the Creator.

So you never plead ignorance that all living beings, living or non-living, show the existence and greatness of God. Look at things around you and strive to show appreciation in the best manner for the eternal greatness of God.

The existence of God is OBVIOUS. Ignoring it would only be the beginning of the greatest damage we could ever do to ourselves. That is simply because God is in no need of anything. He is the One Who shows His greatness in all things and in all ways. God is the owner of everything, from the heavens to the earth. We learn the attributes of God from the Qur'an:

God! There is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 255.

Harun Yahya

WHO IS ALLAH?

2007-02-22T00:05:00.000+08:00

ALLAH is an Arabic word for GOD.

ALLAH possesses unique and ultimate attributes - He is the One, the Creator of Universe and Mankind. He is All-Knowing. He is the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful, the Most Just, the Provider and Sustainer, the Guide.

But He is also the Avenger, the Vanquisher, the Punisher, the Destroyer - He hates to be associated with anything else, or be assigned sonship or humannes like what Trinity teaches Christians. In fact, the biggest sin which He will never ever pass is the worship of Him in association with anything else.

Non-Muslims often thought that Islam makes its adherents worship something else other than God.

Often one hears the Arabic word Allah being used in discussions regarding Islam. The word Allah is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews.

As a matter of fact, the word Allah was in use far before the word God ever came into existence, since English is a relatively new language. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word Allah being use where the word God is used in English. For instance, Arabic speaking Christians say that Jesus is, according to their canon belief, the Son of Allah.

In addition, the Arabic word for Almighty God, Allah, is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages. For example, the Hebrew word for God is `Elah'. (Variations: Yahweh ?) For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than the God of Moses and Abraham and Jesus.

This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the other prophets, peace be upon them.

*There are Jewish priests (rabbis) and Christian evangelists and missionaries who lie by spreading the notion that Muslims worship the `Moon god' and that's why the Muslims have the crescent (half moon) as a symbol. Or Muslims worship the Kaabah - the black structure in Mecca.

Please be informed that Muslims do not worship people, a human deity, an idol, a dogma, or a spirit. Muslims DO NOT WORSHIP THE BLACKSTONE IN MECCA. They prostrate only towards the black structure (Kaabah) but it only serves as the focus point for all Muslim prayers from all over the world.

Muslims worship only Allah, He alone is worshipped, and to Him alone Muslims submit to, spiritually and faithfully.

Christians have turned to worshipping Jesus AS GOD, who was human with flesh and blood, and say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and created the Trinity concept out of nothing other than their ignorance, bearing the wrath of AALLAH (God) who forbades human to equate Him to His Creations.

Other heretics and apostates turned to worshipping Satan, which is a very gravious act of going against ALLAH over and out! Freemasons and Judaism have been proven to worship Satan. It is strange indeed that these Satanic cults are staunch materialists and anti-religion who look at Islam negatively, whilst they all believe in Satanic power and fall to satanic influence.

Again and again in the Quran, ALLAH (Our God, your God) said Himself that He hates and despises the people of the books (Jews and Christians) because:

1. Jews believe in One God, but they consistently breached the laws and refused to acknowledge Muhammad as the last Prophet just because he was Arab. Jews even went further to smear Gabriel the arch angel, Mary, and Jesus the Great Prophet. Whom do you think INVENT THE TRINITY? It was Paul a Jewish who instigated Roman persecution of Jesus!

2. Christians for believing in TRINITY which goes against the First Commandment - Do Not Worship anything or anybody else except God! And they made the very big sin of assigning sonship, and humanness to God by the Trinity doctrine! Jesus DID NOT claim to be God, Son of God, or anything, Jesus himself said `Do not worship me, I am a Prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel (Jews) back to the straight path.

3. Refusing the Prophethood of Muhammad and the Quran.

4. They persist in disbelieving in Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran - but attempt to destroy Islam, distort its teachings, pull the Muslims to be apostates (quitting Islam) by hook or by crook, and insult and smear Islam and the Muslims.

Moreover, Jewsih and Christian money funded the propagation of Christianity and apostasy amongst Muslim communities disguised as relief funds for example among the Acheh Muslims after the tsunami.

Christians and Jews - do you want to wait until Jesus return to the earth so that you will believe in Muhammad and Oneness of God? On that day, what happens is that Jesus will lead Muslims the adherents of Islam (the `Mohammedans' as you might call them) against Dajjal, the anti-Christ, and all the armies and soldiers will fight in the battle between Islam the Truth, and the Kuffars, the disbelievers.

Who is Muhammad?

2007-02-21T23:49:00.000+08:00

The last and final prophet whom God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. At the age of forty, he received the revelation from Allah. He then spent the remaining portion of his life explaining, and living the teachings of Islam, the religion that Allah revealed to him.

The Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but primarily because he was chosen by Allah to be the last prophet - whose mission to guide humanity would continue until the Last Day - and because he has been sent as a mercy to all of mankind.

The result of his mission has brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Since the beginning of time, Allah sent prophets to the earth, each one to his own specific nation. The Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent as the final Messenger to all of humanity.

Even though other religious communities have claimed to believe in One God, over time, some corrupted ideas entered into their beliefs and practices leading them away from the pure sincere monotheism of the prophets. Some took their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God.

12 Proofs that Prophet Muhammad was a True Prophet

The last and final prophet whom God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. At the age of forty, he received the revelation from Allah. He then spent the remaining portion of his life explaining, and living the teachings of Islam, the religion that Allah revealed to him.

The Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but primarily because he was chosen by Allah to be the last prophet - whose mission to guide humanity would continue until the Last Day - and because he has been sent as a mercy to all of mankind.

The result of his mission has brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Since the beginning of time, Allah sent prophets to the earth, each one to his own specific nation. The Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent as the final Messenger to all of humanity.

Even though other religious communities have claimed to believe in One God, over time, some corrupted ideas entered into their beliefs and practices leading them away from the pure sincere monotheism of the prophets. Some took their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God.

Some even believed that their prophets were the manifestations of God, or God Incarnate or the Son of God. All of these misconceptions lead to the worship of created beings instead of the Creator, and contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God may be approached through intermediaries.

In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, always emphasized that he was only a human-being with the mission of preaching and obeying Allah's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as the Messenger of God and His Slave.

Through his life and teachings, Allah made Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, the perfect example for all people - he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbor, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, lived in the full light of history, and all his sayings and acts were meticulously recorded and collected.

Muslims don't need to have mere ˜faith that he existed, or that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact. Allah took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad from distortion or from being forgotten or lost. This was necessary because Allah promised that Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, was to be the final Messenger to mankind.

All of Allah's Messengers - Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Jacob, David, Solomon and other prophets (English names) preached the message of Islam - i.e. submission to the law of God and the worship of God alone “ but Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, is the last prophet of Islam who brought the final and complete message which was never to be changed until the Last Day.

*Jewish apostates and heretics plotted to kill Muhammad almost the same way they plotted against Jesus the son of Mary. Regarding Jewish hatred towards Jesus and Muhammad is told in the Quran and the Bible. However, both prophets were protected by Allah, and Jesus himself was not cruxified.

About the Jews

2007-02-21T23:42:00.000+08:00

The People of the Book ask you to bring down upon them a Book from heaven. Of Moses they asked greater than that, they said to him: 'Show us Allah openly.' And a thunderbolt took them for their evil doing. Then they took to themselves the calf, after the clear proofs had come to them, yet We forgave that and We gave Moses clear authority.

(*In absence of Prophet Moses, they created a calf statue casted from gold, and worshipped it. They might had been influenced by the Egyptian pagan culture)

And We raised the Mount above them, and took covenant with them, and We said: 'Enter in at the gate, prostrating', and We said to them, 'Do not transgress the Sabbath', and We took from them a solemn covenant.

So, for their breaking of the covenant, and disbelieving the verses of Allah, and killing their Prophets without right and for saying, 'Our hearts are covered' - no, but Allah has sealed them for their disbelief, so, except for a few, they do not believe.

(*The Jews killed the Prophets and were involved in the persecution of Jesus. The Jews also plotted to kill Muhammad. However, both Prophets were saved from their plots. In modern times, Jews killed and imprisoned Muslim leaders and scholars, or instigated persecution of Muslim leaders by national governments, like the martyrs Hassan al Banna and Sayyid Qutb and Malcolm X)

Also for their disbelief and their saying about Mary a great calumny,

And for their saying, 'We killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger (and Prophet) of Allah.' They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but to them, he (the crucified) had been given the look (of Prophet Jesus). Those who differ concerning him (Prophet Jesus) are surely in doubt regarding him, they have no knowledge of him, except the following of supposition, and (it is) a certainty they did not kill him.

Rather, Allah raised him up to Him. Allah is Almighty, the Wise.

There is not one of the People of the Book but will surely believe in him (Prophet Jesus) before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.

(*Jesus was sent to the Jews, but they resented him and accused him of claiming to be God. And so Trinity was invented by Paul, a Jew. Christians until today followed the Trinity doctrine)

And for the harm-doing of those of Jewry, We have forbidden them the good things that were permitted to them, and also for their barring many from the way of Allah.

(*Jews own the media, TV and newspapers, schools and universities. They effectively disseminate filth and pornography, violence and immorality, and block the message of Islam, and spread negative propaganda against Islam and Muslims)

And for their taking of usury, that they were prohibited, and consuming the wealth of people in falsehood, for the unbelievers among them We have prepared a painful punishment.

(*Usury - interest rate - Jews are among billionaires and shareholders of Federal Reserve, and held positions in World Bank and IMF and Jewish banks, all are usurers)

But those of them that are firmly rooted in knowledge, and the believers believing in what has been sent down to you (Prophet Muhammad), and what was sent down before you, and those who establish the prayer and pay the obligatory charity, and those who believe in Allah and the Last Day - to those, We surely give a great wage.

Surah an Nisaa - 153-162

Zodiac Pack

2007-02-20T00:07:00.000+08:00

By PAULINE WONG

The five essential vitamins to complete your Fruits Basket indulgence.
HONDA Tohru is an orphan living with her paternal grandfather, and has more than her share of tragedy. Yet she is perpetually sunny and optimistic despite her parents’ deaths and the fact that she has to bunk out in a tent while her grandfather’s house is being renovated.

Friends forever? Sohma Kyo (far left) and Sohma Yuki have something more interesting to think about besides their rivalry after Honda Tohru enters their lives.One fine day, when she stumbles upon the Sohma house and meets the charming Sohma Yuki and goofy Sohma Shigure, her life changes. And when a landslide demolishes her makeshift home, she finds herself living with the two Sohmas instead. But there is more to the Sohma clan than meets the eye ? 12 members of this clan – three of them girls – live under a dark curse. You see, they are possessed by the spirits of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, and when hugged by the opposite sex, they transform into creatures of their respective zodiac signs. (Interestingly, the animals they change into have nothing to do with their actual birth years.)

By the way, there’s a 13th “unofficial” member of the clan: Sohma Kyo, who transforms into a cat, which of course isn’t on the Chinese zodiac.

Tohru soon discovers the clan members’ dreaded secret and their painful past. But her naive, determined and lovable ways begin to show them that hearts can heal and old wounds can close.

Then there is the problem of Sohma Akito, the head of the family, who resents Tohru and is determined to make her suffer?.

1. Vitamin A for Angst
The completely obvious highlight of this sweet, touching and emotionally-charged anime (based on the hit shojo manga of the same name by Takaya Natsuki) is the angst involved.
There are dark pasts here, ladies and gentlemen, and a whole serving of emotions, ranging from grief, rancour, hatred and regret to happiness, love and a deep understanding. Tohru’s bright and cheerful disposition proves to the cursed members that happiness is not out of reach, and that one only has to keep looking for it and never gives up.

2. Vitamin B for Brains vs Brawn
One of the best parts of this anime is the way Yuki and Kyo have a go at each other. While Yuki is all cool and wit, Kyo is hot-tempered and quick-fisted. There is a good share of rib-tickling, side-splitting humour here. Although Kyo tries very hard, he never wins.

3. Vitamin C for Cheerfulness
Tohru is the nicest, most likeable and endearing character I have come across. While there are many other female leads in other anime who strive to copy Tohru’s cheerfulness and optimism, they tend to fall short and become annoying (I shall not mention names). In spite of her grief, Tohru pulls herself together and continues to smile, dispensing silly but useful advice to everyone whose heart she touches (check out the one about rice balls).

4. Vitamin D for Differences

Of course, there will come a time to compare the manga and the anime. The most pertinent difference is ? the pictures move – with colour. (Just pulling your legs, dear readers. Please allow me a few lame jokes.)

The biggest difference lies in the fact that the manga is a lot more angst-ridden and dark while the anime is lighter and funnier.

In the manga, the Sohmas’ past is told in vivid detail, with a lot of pain and suffering to boot. Offering only a few chuckles, it concentrates instead on the lives of the Sohmas and Akito’s influence.

The anime, on the other hand, has more humour and a lot less anger and conflict. Oh, don’t get me wrong. The angst is still there – it’s just more touching and strangely uplifting as opposed to just plain depressing (like in the manga).

Also, in the anime, the cursed Sohma members share an affinity with animals of their sign. (For example, Shigure, who transforms into a dog, has a bond with canines.)

The anime is, nevertheless, largely faithful to the manga, but just a little condensed. The story in the anime probably goes up to Vol.12 or so of the manga, and has an open ending (grr, I hate open endings). Since the manga is still ongoing but the anime goes up to Episode 26, it is safe to say the ending of the anime is different from the manga.

Notably, two of the characters that appear later in the manga, Sohma Kureno (the Rooster) and Sohma Rin (the Horse), are absent in the anime.

5. Vitamin E for Easy on the Eye
The animation is well above average, featuring the usual ethereal backgrounds and starry eyes. It is well done, very pleasant to watch and easy to discern. There are no messy details and fast-moving pictures to confuse anyone.

I loved every minute of this anime, and, truth be told, I preferred the anime to the manga. The anime, which is much more upbeat than the manga, is easier to digest and love. It has to be said that the best part of the manga is in the anime: the fact that there is good in all of us and whether we see it or not, we can all be happy if we will just be ourselves; and once we see ourselves for who we are and accept it, then acceptance will come from others too.

Ever since Pauline Wong found that manga were more than robots from the future, she has not stopped devouring them.

Due to overwhelming response, Ntv7 will be re-running ‘Fruits Basket’ on April 29, 1pm. It will be aired with the original Japanese audio with Bahasa Malaysia subtitles. The show was screened last year.

Share your love (or hate) of ‘Fruits Basket’ with us! Who is your favourite character? What do you love about ‘Fruits Basket’? Hey, why not send us pictures of your favourite ‘Fruits Basket’ item?

Send your e-mail to otaku@thestar.com.my.
Related Stories:Trivia bits

PERKEMBANGAN GERAKAN PENCERAHAN DALAM DUNIA KRISTIAN SERTA PERSAMAAN DENGAN KEBANGKITAN INTELEKTUAL ISLAM

2007-02-19T02:23:00.000+08:00

Dunia Kristian tersebar ke Britain sekitar tahun 200 Masihi iaitu selepas hampir kejatuhan kerajaan Rom di Itali. Pada tahun 306, Constantius 1 iaitu Raja Rom Barat telah meninggal dunia dan anaknya telah menggabungkan empayar Rome Barat kepada Britain. Di sini permulaan rentak perkembangan Kristian di Britain serta permulaan berlakunya pendominasian Gereja TERHADAP PELADANG-PELADANG PERIBUMI BERBANGSA British.

Sebenarnya perkembangan gerakan ‘arianisme’ iaitu gerakan yang cenderung kepada golongan aryan di Eropah telah memasukkan unsur trimurthi ke dalam ajaran nasrani sehingga triniti digunapakai oleh para Bishop untuk menjelaskan hakikat ketuhanan mereka. Perdebatan rasional telah berlaku dengan rancaknya apabila muncul golongan ‘pencerah’ ke dalam dunia Kristian di mana perbahasan yang orthodoks dan anti-logik telah ditentang oleh tokoh-tokoh ini.

Peningkatan keintelektualan adalah suatu lumrah dan adat dunia. Kebangkitan ini didorong oleh penindasan yang berlaku, tersebarnya dogma-dogma yang mencengkam kebebasan berfikir serta penegahan rakyat daripada mencari kehendak hati. Perkara yang sama berlaku apabila Thales, Pluto dan Socrates dahulu yang pernah diancam serta dihukum gara-gara pemikiran mereka yang cuba membebaskana rakyat daripada terbelenggu dengan cengkaman dogma para raja dan ahli sihir. Kelahiran ahli falsafah iaitu golongan philio-sofia (sukakan kebenaran dan hakikat sesuatu perkara) telah menjadi suatu dielektik semulajadi manusia dalam sesebuah masyarakat.

Pada era abad ke-12 dan 13, gerakan-gerakan universiti telah berlaku. Karya-karya Islam yang dikaut kembali demi mendapat semula hak mereka (karya Yunani) ditransaksikan secara meluias melalui dunia Sepanyol, Iran, Turki dan sebagainya apabila beberapa siri kebangkitan intelektrualan berlaku di dunia eropah. Gerakan ini dikenali sebagai gerakan skolasticisme iaitu gerakan kesarjanaan. Bezanya transaksi ini ialah, mereka tidak ditaja untuk membawa keilmuan ini ke eropah sepertimana layanan istimewa Khalifah Baghdad terhadap para intelektual dan ulama’ Islam. Malahan ulama’ yang bukan berbangsa Arab juga dilayan sebaik rupa. Pemikir dan intelektual barat lebih berdikari. Mereka mula mendapat tempat meletakkan kehebatan mereka apabila dasar pensawstaan mula digazetkan sejurus selepas kebangkitan dasar perlembagaan baru eropah serta kebangkitan golongan pemodal. Lantaran itulah kebangkitan sains dan teknologi barat tidak dapat dikawal nilai-niolai kemanusiaannya oleh kerajaan.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) adalah tokoh Kristian yang mendorong rakyat eropah agar meneliti kembali karya falsafah Aristiotle agar terkeluar daripada dogma gereja. Dia mengatakan bahaawa akal dan analitikal tidak dapat menggantikan iman dan wahyu tuhan. Dia mengatakan bahawa setiap perkara yang berlaku ada sebab musababnya (ilmu mantik) dan ilmu ini mendekatkan umat Kristian kepada pencipta mereka. Pergeseran Aquinas dengan gereja semakin menyerlah apabila beliau mengasaskan gerakan yang berpedomankan Bible dan bukan berdasarkan hawa nafsa para paderi semata-mata. Pada waktu itu Gereja menjadi penguasa tertinggi sebelum raja-raja eropah. Kejahilan barat tentang ilmu menyebabkan mereka terpengaruh dengan idea-idea mistik daripada para paderi. Pendek kata, para paderi memanipulasikan kejahilan masyarakat dan para bangsawann untuk menjadi dominan. Idea Aquinas kelihatan seperti idea Imam Abu Hassan Al A’syaariy apabila beliau cuba menggabungkan akal dan kekuatan akal dengan paduan wahyu yang tulen. Penentangan terhadapnya meningkat kerana dikatakan terlalu bermudah-mudah menggunakan akal dalam meneliti sesuatu hukum dalam Bible.

Gerakan-gerakan menuju kepada reformasi berlaku pada sekitar abad ke-14 apabila gerakan Nominalisme berlaku. Gerakan ini menentang idea daripada Aquinas yang membawa agenda akal. Nominalisme telah cuba membawa penafsiran agama semata-mata berasaskan iman dan kepercayaan. Ajaran ini juga bermusuhan dengan gereja kerana mereka juga menentang kezaliman paderi-paderi. John Wylif daripada Universiti Oxford membawa ajaran yang lebih meresahkan para paderi yang korup. Beliau mengatakan bahawa gereja yang tulen bukan daripada benda yang kelihatan seperti bangunan gereja. Tetapi gereja adalah bermula daripada manusia-manusia yang membawa Kristian yang sejati. Gereja adalah hati-hati manusia yang ikhlas. Bible disarankan agar dilebihkan daripada mengutamakan para paderi yang korup. Jelasnya pada era ini manipulasi paderi terhadap kejahilan masayarakat telah gagal dan merosot teruk. Pada 1407, bible yang telah beliau terjemahkan ke bahasa Inggeris telah dimusnahkan oleh para raja. Perbuatan itu dikatakan bercanggah dengan semangat Roman.

Jika diteliti kebangkitan kesedaran dan pemugaran sikap dikalangan penganut Kristian ke arah nilai tulen bermula sejurus selepas kejatuhan Baghdad . Teori Imam Asya’ariy dan Maaturidiy serta banyak lagi pendapat teologis Islam telah menempati dalam banyak keputusan keintelektualan barat. Di sinilah bermulanya graf kebangkitan sains dan teknologi barat.

Di Itali, gerakan Humanisme telah merebak kuat serta membawa arus pertama kepada Renaissance yang merupakan suatu gerakan enlightenment (pencerahan) selepas beberapa siri reformasi agama berlaku di Itali. Tulisan Rom kuno dan Yunani didapati melalui hubungan dengan Kerajaan Turki Uthmaniyyah.

Di eropah utara pula gerakan Devotio Moderna mula mentransformasikan budaya barat. Gerakan ini seolah-olah gerakan sufi dalam Islam. Mereka tertarik dengan budaya kerahiban, doa-doa dan ibadah yang tulus.

Pada 1517 Martin Luther membawa aganeda Reformasi di Jerman. Indulgence daripada gereja Jermen serta salahguna kuasa para paderi mendorong kebangkitan ajaran Martin Luther ini.

Secara umumnya difahami gerakan reformasi Kristian adalah merupakan awalan kepada gerakan pencerahan yang lebih signifikan dnegan kebangkitan Itali. Daripada kebangkitan seni dan sastera di Itali telah membawa manusia barat kepada sains dan teknologi yang selaras dengan keperluan zaman. Umumnya difahami bahawa penyelewengan agama serta penafsiran yang sempit atau terlalu semberono adalah punca kepada kemerosotan sesuatu bangsa. Kebangkitan tyrant (tirani) yang zalim, manipulator dikalangan ulama’(paderi atau rahib) akan lebioh merumitkanlah kebangkitan sesebuah masyarakat. Kristian mengambil kesimpulan kebangkitan Islam dengan metranformasikan agama terlebih dahulu sebelum membawa agenda perubahan. Numun begitu semasa pencerahan berlaku, sekularisasi telah menjadi materi utama yang diselitkan dalam agenda kebangkitan intelek. Di sinilah berbezanya elemen kebangkitan Islam dan Kristian.

Reformasi agama di Britain ditandai dengan pemerintahan Raja Henry VIII. Disebabkan beliau dipaksa mengahwini kakak iparnya yang kematian suami, menyebabkan beliau telah memaksa para paderi menuruti kehendaknya menceraikan isterinya. Disini pergelutan kuasa antara paderi dan raja berlaku. Kelihatannya politik telah menjadi tajuk utama berbanding kesucian ajaran dalam Bible. Seumpama semasa era pemerintahan Khalifah Al Ma’mun di Baghdad dahulu. Kekuasaannya menyebabkan baginda menggunakan kuasanya untuk menekan para ulama’ hadis beriman sepertinya yang mengikuti aliran muktazilah. Ajaran yang tidak memberi kesan yang besar telah berubah menjadi senjata pembunuh appabila dipolitikkan secara agresif. Henry yang buntu dengan kejumudan paderi telah mengambil keputusan untuk mendorong gerakan intelek dan reformasi di Britain.

Henry telah membritishkan semua risalah doa dan Bible. Idea Wyclif telah digunakan untuk memudahkan masyarakat memahami Bible. Jelasnya ianya berbeza dengan Islam. Islam menekankan keaslian literasi Al-Quran dan salinan Hadis-Hadis Nabi SAW. Untuk memberi kefahaman kepada rakyat pula, diadakan tafsir, hasyiah, syarah dan mukhtasar kepada kitab utama tersebut dan bukannya dengan menukar bahasa dan tulisan ke bahasa lain seperti ajaran Kristian. Di sinilah bermulanya penyelewengan besar dalam ajaran Kristian berlaku. Akibatnya masyarakat eropah kehilangan nilai Bible mereka. Jika dahulu dalam bahasa Ibrani Dan Roman yang tak difahami langsung tetapi ‘agak’ asli. Kini mereka langsung tiada keaslian dan hilang nilai.

Kesimpulan yang boleh kita perhatikan ialah, Reformasi Kristian telah menghasilkan suatu gerakan dielektika terhadap pengongkongan gereja. Di sini perubahan telah menyebabkan masyarakat mula hilang kepercayaan kepada para paderi. Natijahnya Bible yang disorokkan penafsiran dan keasliannya oleh para paderi mula hilang terus dalam pegangan masyarakat eropah. Manakala sepanjang zaman pencerahan pula, sekular telah menjadi pedoman baru dan membawa rentetan humanisme yang meleret sehingga kini. Apabila paderi dan Bible mula dijadikan amalan ritual atau perlambangan semata-mata, maka bermualalah era ‘berdikari’ dan perlepasan masyarakat eropah daripada rasa bertuhan. Kini tuhan mereka adalah gerakan hak Asasi.!!

Muhammad Nuruddin Bashah
http://munawwarah.blogdrive.com

Berterus-teranglah dengan yang nyata.

2007-02-19T02:18:00.000+08:00

Saya masih lagi membelek-belek akhbar tempatan pagi ini, melompat antara membaca The Star dan The Sun, belum pun sempat sentuh Utusan. Tiba-tiba perhatian saya tertarik kearah satu berita kecil dalam The Sun dimuka 11 bertajuk:

Leader in education but more needs to be done: UN man

Pelapor Khas atau Special Rapporteur Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu, berhubung hak asasi terhadap pelajaran, Vernor Villalobos rupanya berada di Malaysia untuk mengkaji sistem pelajaran dan pendidikan negara untuk dilaporkan kepada Majlis Hak Asasi UN.

Villalobos dalam sidang akhbarnya menyuarakan kebimbangan terhadap Akta Kolej Universiti 1971 yang menurut beliau menyekat hak berperasatuan, hak bersuara dan menyatakan pendirian politik dikalangan mahasisiwa tempatan yang menurut beliau jelas bertentangan dengan hak asasi manusia.

Rupanya menurut laman web MALAYSIAKINI kedua-dua Menteri Pelajaran dan Pendidikan Tinggi enggan berjumpa Villalobos sepanjang misinya ke Malaysia. Sedangkan menurut beliau di negara-negara lain yang dikunjunginya beliau menerima penghormatan dan layanan yang baik dari pimpinan tertinggi negara dalam portfolio pelajaran dan pendidikan.

Yang lebih menarik perhatian saya sebagaimana dilaporkan oleh laman web berkenaan betapa Villalobos turut menyuarakan pandangan berhubung pengajaran subjek sains dan matematik di sekolah-sekolah dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

Menurut beliau:

there was a need to re-examine the re-introduction of English to teach Mathematics and Science subjects since many rural students struggle with the language

Menteri tak nampak, Timbalan Menteri tak nampak, ahli-ahli parlimen lebih lagi tak nampak rupanya seorang asing dari entah mana negara, boleh berkunjung ke sini dan dengan jelas mendapati bahawa anak-anak kita di sekolah berhadapan dengan masalah, namun kita tetap berkeras kepala mahu meneruskan program yang meranapkan masa depan anak-anak bangsa ini.
...........
Oleh Roslan SMS
http://n32.blogspot.com/

Illegal sand dredging in Kedah

2007-02-18T13:46:00.000+08:00

By SIRA HABIBU

ALOR STAR: The sand used in Penang Port Sdn Bhd’s (PPSB) reclamation project in Butterworth is believed to be sourced illegally in Kedah.
It is learnt that the sand came from ongoing illegal sand dredging activities in Pulau Songsong and its vicinity, which was highlighted by The Star and TV9 recently.

Bootleg sand: Sand-dredging activity carried out within 500m from Pulau Songsong shores in Kedah. This was highlighted recently by The Star and TV9.It has been verified that the subcontractor of PPSB’s main contractor had signed a deal with another company to source for sand for the reclamation project for the second phase of the North Butterworth Container Terminal.

The sand dredging activity is going on in a restricted area used by the Armed Forces for training and fishermen have complained of gross depletion of fisheries resources in the area following the dredging activities.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid confirmed that the dredging activities in Pulau Songsong and its vicinity was illegal.

He has asked the Yan District Office to investigate and take action.

Mahdzir said he had received reports that a certain company had a permit to remove ammunition shells from the seabed.

But the permit holder denies being involved.
Harun Yahaya of Penang-based Syarikat Shahidin, said he had complained to the relevant authorities from May last year that another company was involved in illegal sand dredging activity.

“I complained to the Defence Ministry in May last year. The ministry had issued a warning letter asking the operator to leave the area. But the operator never left.

“I also informed the Yan Land Office on July 23. I informed the northern region marine department on Dec 11 on the illegal presence of the barge off Pulau Songsong and the vicinity.

“I also lodged a police report in Yan on Dec 15 to complain that a another company was using forged documents to gain access to the restricted area.

“But all my complaints fell on deaf ears until the media highlighted the matter,” he said.
Harun lodged another report at the Jelutong police station in Penang on Feb 15 to deny any involvement in the illegal sand dredging activity.

“I gave the police copies of all the letters sent to the Marine Department and the Defence Ministry. I need to clear my name. I want the authorities to take action against the impostor,” he said.

PPSB managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar said: “If it is illegal, we certainly do not condone it.”

Hapuskan bacaan doa demi perpaduan negara?

2007-02-17T16:11:00.000+08:00

Saya melalui tingkatan empat dan lima di Sekolah yang dimiliki oleh mubaligh Kristian iaitu La Salle. Saya masih ingat Pengetua kami Brother Charles Michael O Leary, seorang berbangsa Scot, berpakaian jubah putih paderi Katolik sepanjang waktu persekolahan.

Semasa hari-hari perhimpunan Brtoher Charles akan memulakan perhimpunan dengan mengajak anak-anak murid berdoa, mengikut kepercayaannya. Lalu semua pelajar akan tunduk bertafakur menurut amalan Katolik kecuali pelajar-pelajar Islam. Dan saya yakin inilah amalan di sekolah-sekolah yang dikendalikan oleh mubaligh-mubaligh ini seluruh negara.

Amalan ini diterima oleh kami para pelajar kerana sekolah tersebut walaupun mengguna pakai kurikulum kerajaan dan guru-gurunya dari Jabatan Pelajaran belaka namun ianya dimilki oleh mubaligh-mubaligh ini. Tidak timbul singgung-menyinggung.

Lantas saya terperanjat apabila membaca berita berikut dari laman mSTAR Online:

Guru sepatutnya memainkan peranan dengan menganjurkan amalan dan kegiatan-kegiatan yang menyatu-padukan murid dan menggalakkan mereka berinteraksi secara bebas, bukan memecah-belahkan mereka. Kita tidak mahu timbul isu kerana guru atau ustaz serta ustazah berpandangan sempit dalam soal agama sehingga boleh menjejaskan perpaduan sesama murid, katanya.

Beliau berkata, amalan itu telahpun diberhentikan di semua taman bimbingan kanak-kanak yang ditadbir oleh Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional.

Di tabika-tabika perpaduan, arahan sudah dikeluarkan supaya bacaan doa tidak diamalkan. Ada guru-guru yang berasa seronok apabila kanak-kanak bukan Islam pun boleh mengikut membaca doa, tetapi saya ingatkan mereka bahawa itu sesuatu yang melanggar etika kerana mereka masih kanak-kanak.

Kita tidak mahu anak-anak kecil bukan Islam nanti membaca doa apabila pulang ke rumah masing-masing. Ini boleh menyinggung perasaan ibu bapa mereka, katanya.

Beliau yang membuat kenyataan itu adalah Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perpaduan Negara dan Integrasi Nasional Datuk Azman Amin Hassan.

Inilah satu sikap dan perangai orang Melayu yang cetek dan berfikiran sempit yang akhirnya mengakibatkan ruginya agama dan anak bangsa. 50 tahun kita merdeka, kita sepatutnya berusaha memperteguhkan lagi jatidiri bangsa dan agama tetapi tidak, semakin negara dewasa semakin kelihatan hapus dan terhakis nilai-nilai kita. Dari tulisan jawi, ke sekolah-sekolah agama rakyat (yang ditarik balik peruntukkannnya), pengajaran sains dan matematik dalam bahasa Inggeris dan kini amalan berdoa untuk anak-anak kita pun mahu dihapuskan!

Saya menghormati semua kaum dan agama dalam negara kita ini, dan saya yakin mereka juga setelah 50 tahun bersama duduk di bumi bertuah ini turut sama menghormati adat, amalan dan kepercayaan kita.

Mengapa harus kita robah STATUS QUO ini tanpa mengambil-kira pandangan majoriti? Sekolah-sekolah yang diasaskan oleh mubaligh-mubaligh Kristian, sehingga ke hari ini masih mengekalkan salib dan lambang-lambang agama mereka di setiap pelusuk sekolah-sekolah ini. Di Kuala Lumpur sahaja pergilah ke SK St John, Convent Bukit Nanas, MBS, La Salle dan lain-lain. Kenapa demi perpaduan negara tidak kita arahkan agar salib ini diturunkan atau dipadam dari bangunan sekolah?

Kita tidak melakukannya kerana kita menghormati mereka, dan kita tidak pernah terganggu dengan amalan mereka itu, lalu kenapa dalam hal agama kita mudah sangat kita berkompromi demi kononnya menjaga kepentingan orang lain?

Sebelum ini menteri-menteri MCA dan Gerakan pernah menyuarakan bantahan mereka terhadap amalan doa ini dan termasuklah ayat-ayat doa umpama doa makan dan doa masuk tandas yang dituliskan di dinding-dinding kebanyakkan sekolah-sekolah di negara kita.

Nampaknya langkah yang bermula dari tabika-tabika perpaduan ini adalah permulaan yang saya yakin atas alasan yangsama akan dipanjangkan ke sekolah-sekolah rendah dan menengah.

Saya sedih melihat betapa mudahnya hal-hal seumpama ini dikorbankan demi kerana tuntutan dan kepentingan politik pihak-pihak tertentu. Saya tidak pernah mendengar amalan-amalan doa ini contohnya dipaksakan ke atas anak-anak yang bukan beragama Islam di tadika atau sekolah rendah dan menengah sebagaimana saya dan rakan-rakan yang bersekolah di missionary schools umpama yang saya sebutkan di atas tidak pernah pun dipaksa oleh paderi-paderi di sekolah-sekolah kami dahulu.

Kesimpulannya janganlah ghairah merobah sesuatu amalan yang baik dan berguna sehingga akhirnya nanti melahirkan anak-anak kita yang buta agama dan hilangan pegangannya. Bersederhanalah bila perlu, perpaduan negara telah dikecapi selama 50 tahun kebelakangan ini tanpa perlu kita menghapuskan bacaan doa di tadika atau sekolah-sekolah, mengapa sekarang tiba-tiba kita bersungguh?

oleh Roslan SMS

Pembuka Tirai

2007-02-17T15:30:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum......
Mohon maaf atas kesulitan. Kepada para pembaca blog http://fareaster.blogdrive.com kerana FarEast jarang mengupload blog, disebabkan terlalu sibuk dengan urunsan kerja. Blogdrive.com kerap offline, oleh itu FarEast berhijrah ke http://fareaster.blogspot.com (Blogger.com), untuk kemudahan para pembaca. Sebarang teguran, kritikan, dan sindiran yang membina adalah diperlukan bagi memperbaiki kelemahan penulis.::--FarEast--::