Secularity, reality and danger

Secularity, reality and danger

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

The word “Secularity” – (Al-`Ilmâniyya) in the Arabic language – is a term that has absolutely no relation with the word “Science” (`Ilm) or its derivations. From the political point of view, secularity means “Irreligious power” (i.e. religion should not be involved in power). It is commonly defined in many Islamic books as “The separation of religion from the state”. However, this meaning is limited and does not state the reality of secularity, which involves the individual and the behavior that have no relation with the state. This is why we can express it differently in a more conformable way to the reality of secularity, which is “The establishment of an irreligious life”. Regardless the fact that secularity, whose doctrine and philosophy emerged under the protection of the western civilization, was influenced by the falsified Christianity^[1] and socialism, the irreligious secularity is a worldly ideology aiming at isolating the religious influence on life. It calls to set up life on material basis in its different domains: political, economical, social, ethic, judicial and others, also on the bases of the absolute worldly knowledge, under the power of reason and experimentation, taking into consideration interest, by adapting the principle of utilitarianism over all the domains of life, in power, politics and ethics based on the Machiavellian principle “The end justifies the means”. Thus, far from the religious recommendations and prohibitions which are restricted in the individual’s mind and do not go with them beyond his personal and private relation between him and his Lord. Furthermore, he is not allowed to express himself, but only in matters of religious rituals and ceremonies, which consist of weddings, festivals, funerals and others.

Secularity, which is based on the materialistic tendency, is soon emanated from the irreligious doctrine, whose utmost aim is fighting religion and removing it from all fields of the public life, in addition to excluding people of religion and its protectors and limiting their influence by isolating them from educational domains, institutions and scientific institutes, and preventing religious knowledge. So, its highest aim is to establish a state and a society where religion is confined to the individual level, and make people of the Islamic society feel brotherhood in state, regardless the fact that they are not brothers in religion.

Nevertheless, the truth is not really perceived by those who divide secularity, on the one hand, into atheistic one, which radically denies the existence of the Creator and does not at all recognize something in matter of religion, and on the other hand, into non-atheistic secularity that believes, theoretically, in the Creator but rejects any relation between Allah عز وجل and the men’s life. It calls to isolate religion from the world and life, and rejects, explicitly or implicitly, the legislation of Allah. Because atheism is the nature of secularity in all its forms since atheism is to depart and to deviate from Allah’s religion and legislation including all leaning or tendency towards religion. This is what essentially leads to incredulity in Allah, the association to Him in what is illicit, transgress something forbidden by Him, and leave any of the recommendations of Allah^[2].

Besides, the origin of atheism is all what contains the association to Allah in His general Lordship, and denying Allah’s Names, attributes or Acts.

The predication of secularity represents a huge danger to the religion of Islam and to Muslims, and the majority of the Muslims are not aware of its reality because it disguises behind different masks such as patriotism, socialism, nationalism, and others. As well as, it hides behind destructive theories like Freudianism, Darwinism, or Evolutionism^[3] and others. Its partisans pretend relying on attested scientific arguments whereas they are just weak, deficient and specious arguments rejected by reason and reality:

﴿كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾ [العنكبوت: 41].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾As the parable of the spider that makes for itself a house; and most surely the frailest of the houses is the spider’s house did they but know﴿ [Al-`Ankabût (The Spider): 41].

Especially, the one that gives the appearance of a partisan to the religion in order to confuse and to lead ordinary Muslims astray. In fact, it does not prevent the pilgrimage and prayer in the mosques. On the contrary, it contributes in their construction, it takes part in celebrations and festivals, it offers rewards and gifts for the imams and those who learn the Koran by heart, and show neither struggle nor antagonism against religion but with very fervent attempts to restrict religion in mosques and isolate it from the domains of life.

Among the aspects and domains of secularization which are kept off from religion:

- Politics and power, the adaptation of secularization in these fields is apparent and not hidden from the observers.

- Secularization of teaching and its methods, a fact not refuted by those who are reasonable.

- Secularization of economy and financial structures, clearly known by experts.

- Civic, social and ethic laws are undoubtedly secularized.

In fact, secularism makes of the spiritual values negative ones. In this manner, it makes the way free to the spread of atheism, westernization, libertinism and ethic anarchy. It calls for the women’s liberation according to the western style that does not condemn illegal relations between the two sexes. This is what helps to open widely the doors to shameful practices that, consequently, lead to the destruction of the family’s existence and to its disunion. Thus, with such practices, generations are formed with an irreligious education, in a society where neither an impediment or a religious barrier nor a voice of a living consciousness exist, which are substituted by agitations of worldly passions like interest, covetousness, the struggle for life, and other material hopes regardless of spiritual values.

It is this kind of secularity that is spread in the Muslim and Arab world, through the effect of colonialism and the campaigns of Christianization and evangelization. Also, because of the improvidence of our compatriots, deluded with illusions, who brandished its slogan, and executed the plans of those who have drawn them and supported them to confuse ordinary people with specious arguments and pretensions of extreme disorientation that founded their predication, which consists of:

- Slandering the Noble Quran and making the prophecy doubtful.

- Pretending that the revelation is inactive and unable to adapt itself with civilisation, and Europe progressed only after getting rid of religion.

- Pretending that Islam neglects the pursuit of the evolution of life, calls for repression, and persecutes the freedom of thought.

- Pretending that Islamic religion has already completed its aims and remains in it only a set of rituals and spiritual practices.

- Pretending that the Arabic language lacks or takes a long time to adapt itself with science and progress, and it is unable to pursuit civilization and development process. However, even if Arabic is the official language in Muslim countries, but still it is marginalized in the majority of administrative institutions, in universities and medical fields, especially in North African countries where the French language has replaced it and really becomes the practiced language of speaking and of communication. Nevertheless, the Arabic language has gradually regressed and loses ground according to plans already prepared and studied after knowing that Arabic is the language of the Quran and the key of the revelation sciences.

- Pretending that the revelation has already been practically applied at the level of politics, power, and in other domains. Because, they pretend that the Islamic jurisprudence draws its prescriptions from the Roman law.

- Pretending the harshness of the revelation in its retributions such as: lex talionis, amputation, being stoned to death, flagellation … and decide on retributions that are more appropriate by taking irreligious laws and methods from the West, by imitation, which are considered more clement and more lenient.

Eventually, these are the set of pretensions that secularists rely on, who work in order to interrupt the revelation of Allah عز وجل by different means such as personalities, magazines, journalism, and other plans. In addition to this, they want to separate the authentic religion from the social life, and reduce it in the narrowest limits and domains according to the leanings and practices of the West who aims at breaking the commandments of Islam and releasing it from all its obligations and values. Besides, they want to alter the Muslim identity, cut them off from their religion, and lose their loyalty to it and membership to their community through the alliance to the West full of hatred, and by interchanging the values, notions, terms and authentic Islamic conceptions with western ones, in a manner that the lifestyle will be changed to that of the West, and by changing the way of thinking and acting so that it suits the thinking and deeds of the West. They also aim at changing the ethical and social behavior with the allegation that it is a modernization of the legislative, juridical and penal systems; and this in a manner that goes with the civilizational way, by imitating the western systems and legislations, all this under the banner of development and renewal.

Many individuals of the Islamic nation were deeply influenced by secularity, and this is obvious in the fields of institutions, power, Sharia, jurisprudence and education. This influence is due to what was spread of ambiguities around Islam, its language, Quran and Prophet, as we previously mentioned.

Many social and political institutions were influenced by these pernicious notions and proceeded to develop their countries by focusing on secularizing the state, whether under the guise of nationalism, socialism, patriotism or others. As for the other institutions with Islamic tendency, they are also influenced by secularity – save those whom Allah Has protected by His mercy – they have of religion a limited conception since they restrict it to its civilizational aspect.

Islam, religion and state rejects categorically this duality, which consists of making a strong barrier between the material and the spiritual world; it is considered an apostasy. Moreover, Islam, within its sane and pure nature, its correct dogma and morality, does not accept the spread of the western social evils such as atheism, libertinism, ethic anarchy, and other vices, ideological and moral impurities which bring the destruction of the doctrine’s unity, the family and the society existence.

In fact, Islam commands to Muslim to be entirely to Allah in all domains of life: his deeds, his words, and his behaviors. His life as well as his death belongs to the Allah عز وجل:

_{﴿قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ}﴾  [الأنعام: 162-163].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم): “Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists) He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims﴿ [Al-An`âm (The Cattle): 162-163].

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

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[1] One of the Christian proclamations: Give to Caesar the power of state and to God the power of the church. Starting from this, it has emerged the principle of “The separation of religion from the state”, a principle attributed to `Issa (Jesus) عليه السلام when he said: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Gospel of Luke 20:25) It is in this way that Christianity agrees with secularism. However, religion and power, in Islam, are made originally to Allah عز وجل and devoted to Him. They do neither admit the separation between religion and State, nor between religion and society, because Islam, as religion and system, is different in its origin from Christianity, which is a set of testaments, and it is also different from it when applied in the Roman societies where religion were for God and power for Caesar.

[2] See “Adhwâ’ Al-Bayân” of Ash-Shanqîti (5/59-58).

[3] The Darwinist theory, in reference to Charles Darwin, a British researcher, who published the book “On the origin of species” in 1859, which deals with a series of assumptions. He supported his theory of apparition and evolution which assumes that the evolution of life in organic creatures is that it evolved from a simple and primitive life to a more complex and subtle one and that it graduated from archaic to more sophisticated life. He considered that the origin of life is a cell which was in a swampy marsh some million years ago, then it had developed and had undergone many steps, among them, that of the ape which became a human. Darwin thus, considered the human as being close to the ape; he even assumed that the real ancestor of the human race is a small cell that lived in a swampy marsh. His aim by this is to eliminate the creed of the people of the truth, that the human race is descended from Adam and Eve.

This theory caused general discomfort and a feeling of upset and perdition. Distraught and disarrayed generations who were characterized by spiritual vacuum have appeared then. Among the results of this theory, the materialistic and Marxist theory which proclaimed the materialistic aspect of the human being who is subjected to the laws of matter, thus neglecting the spiritual aspects. This theory has also an effect on the birth of Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis. Freud drew from the theory of Darwin the idea of the animality of the human being, that he is an animal guided by the sex drive; otherwise he will be in the grip of a harmful inhibition with bad effects on the nervous system.

That is how Freud considered the evolution theory as an explication of the existence of religion by linking it to sexual urges.

Many theories drew from the theory of Darwin destructive ideologies, as the existentialism of Sartre and the contemporary parapsychology of Bergson; they based their theories upon that of Darwin in its explication of the human race, life and behavior.

The experimental sciences proved that Darwin’s theory is false with irrefutable proofs. His theory is not even considered a scientific theory, especially after the discoveries of Mendel’s law on inheritance and genes.

The Quran establishes that the human being is created out of an extract of clay, then he was placed as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging (womb of a woman).

So, the matter of creation of all creatures at the origin is water.

﴿وَاللَهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِن مَاءٍ﴾ [النور : 45].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Allâh has created every moving (living) creature from water. Of them there are some that creep on their bellies, some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allâh creates what He wills. Verily! Allâh is Able to do all things.﴿ [An-Nûr (The Light): 45].

The human stays a human, with all his constituents, his form, his characteristics and his mind, without evolution or change. This fact is a proof that the Creator is one.

﴿الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ. ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُ مِن سُلالَةٍ مِّن مَّاء مَّهِينٍ﴾  [السجدة : 7-8].

The meaning of the verse:

﴾Who made everything He has created good, and He began the creation of man from clay. Then He made his offspring from semen of worthless water (male and female sexual discharge).﴿ [As-Sajda (The Prostration): 7-8].

Source : http://ferkous.com – Sheikh Abu `Abd-El-Mu`iz Muhammed `Ali Farkûs

How To Become A Muslim

How To Become A Muslim

Published by The Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance – Riyadh

All praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the universe. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon Mohammad, His last messenger.

The purpose of this hand-out is to correct a false idea spread among those willing to adopt Islam as their faith. Some people have a wrong notion that entering into the Islamic fold requires an announcement from the concerned person in the presence of high ranking scholars or shaikhs or reporting this act to courts of justice or other authorities. It is also thought that the act of accepting Islam, should, as a condition, have a certificate issued by the authorities, as evidence to that effect.

We wish to clarify that the whole matter is very easy and that none of these conditions or obligations are required. For Allaah, Almighty, is above all comprehension and knows well the secrets of all hearts. Nevertheless, those who are going to adopt Islam as their religion are advised to register themselves as Muslims with the concerned governmental agency, as this procedure may facilitate for them many matters including the possibility of performing Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Umrah .

If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion ordained by Allaah for all human-beings, then, o­ne should pronounce the “Shahada”, the testimony of faith, without further delay.

The Holy Qur’an is explicit o­n this regard as Allaah states:

“The Religion in the sight of Allaah is Islam”  [ Qur'an 3:19 ]

In another verse of the Holy Qur’an, Allaah states:

“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allaah), Never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (their selves in the hell fire).”  [ Qur'an 3:85 ]

In addition, Islam is the o­nly religion prevailing over all other religions. Allaah states in the Holy Qur’an:

“To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety:…” [ Qur'an 5:48 ]

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: Allaah’s Apostle said: Islam is based o­n (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and Muhammad is Allaah’s Apostle.
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.
3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.

The Shahada can be declared as follows:

“ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-Allaah WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN RASUL-Allaah”.

The English translation is:

“I bear witness that there is no deity (none truly to be worshipped) but, Allaah, and I bear witness that Mohammad is the messenger of Allaah”

However, it would not be sufficient for anyone to o­nly utter this testimony oraly either in private or in public; but rather, he should believe in it by heart with a firm conviction and unshakeable faith. If o­ne is truly sincere and complies with the teachings of Islam in all his life, he will find himself a new born person.

This will move him to strive more and more to improve his character and draw nearer to perfection. The light of the living faith will fill his heart until he becomes the embodiment of that faith.

What would be next after declaring o­neself a Muslim? o­ne should then know the real concept underlying this testimony which means the o­neness of Allaah and meet its requirements. o­ne must behave accordingly, applying this true faith to every thing o­ne speaks or does.

What do the words of the “Shahada” signify? The significant point which every Muslim must know very well is the truth that there is no God (deity) to be worshipped other than Allaah. He – glory be to Him – is the o­nly true God, Who alone deserves to be worshipped, since He is the Giver of life and Sustainer and Nourisher of mankind and all creation with His unlimited bounties. Man must worship Allaah, Who alone is worthy of worship.

The second part of the Shahada (i.e., Wa ash-hadu anna Mohammadan rasul-Allaah ) means that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the servant and chosen messenger of Allaah. No o­ne must have two opinions about this matter. In fact the Muslim has to obey the commands of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), to believe him in what he has said, to practice his teachings, to avoid what he has forbidden, and to worship Allaah alone according to the message revealed to him, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by Allaah.

What is the meaning of worship? It simply means rendering sincere service, showing reverence for Allaah. In a deeper shade of meaning, it implies total submission and complete obedience to Allaah’s commandments both in utterances and actions of man whether explicit or implicit.

Worship fall into two categories:

• Visible (manifest or outward)
• Invisible (concealed or inward)

Visible worship includes acts such as uttering the two parts of the “Shahada”, performing prayers, giving Zakah (the poor-due), recitation of the Holy Qur’an, supplication, adoring Allaah by praising Him, purifying our bodies before prayers, etc.

This type of worship is associated with movement of the parts of the human body.

Invisible worship is to believe in Allaah, in the Day of Judgement (in the Hereafter), in the Angels, in the Books of Allaah, in the Prophets of Allaah, in the Divine Decree of destiny (that good and bad are determined by Allaah alone).

This type of worship does not involve movement of parts of the body but it surely has bearing o­n o­ne’s heart which subsequently affects o­ne’s way of life.

It should be borne in mind that any worship not dedicated to Allaah alone will be rejected as o­ne form of polytheism and this causes apostasy from the Islamic fold.

The next step for a newly revert to Islam is to purify himself by taking a complete bath. He should then resolve to comply with the principles and rules of Islam in their entirety. He should disown all forms of polytheism and false beliefs. He should reject evil and be righteous. Such rejection of evil and being righteous is o­ne of the equisites of the motto of Islam – that is, Laa Ilaha IllAllaah .

Allaah states in the Holy Qur’an:

“… whoever rejects evil and believes in Allaah hath grasped the most trustworthy Hand-hold, that never breaks…” [ Qur'an 2:256 ]

We have to consider that when we declare from our heart that “there is no god (deity) worthy to be worshiped but Allaah”, it implies o­n our part love, devotion, faith and obedience to the rules of Islamic legislations which are legally binding o­n all Muslims. It is a requirement of “there is no god worthy to be worshipped but Allaah” to love for the sake of Allaah and to reject for the sake of Allaah.

This is the firmest anchor of belief which materialise the meaning of “AL WALA” and “AL BARA” . It means that a Muslim should love and be loyal to his Muslim brothers. He should, as a practice, dissociate himself completely from the unbelievers and refuse to be influenced by them, both in worldly and religious matters.

We conclude with a humble prayer to Allaah that may He cleanse the hearts and souls of those who are genuine seekers of truth and may He bless the community of believers. Aameen.

The Status of Jesus in Islam

The Status of Jesus in Islam  – by Shaykh Rabee bin Hadee Al-Madkhalee

Description from the publisher:

In this brief treatise, the author sets out to clarify Islam’s true position towards Jesus, which is the middle course between two extremes. At one extreme there are those who believe that Jesus is God, the Son of God or part of a divine trinity while on the other extreme there are others who slander him and deny his message.

The correct belief regarding Jesus as confirmed in the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s teachings is that he was no more than a prophet and messenger of God sent with the same message as all the prophets before him such as Moses, Abraham and Noah. That message was to worship God alone and avoid false deities. This is the one true unwavering message of the Creator to His creation throughout the course of time, and it is the same message that Jesus brought to his people and which Muhammad brought to his people after him.

We hope that this short treatise will serve as an invitation to Christians to reflect on the beauty and simplicity of Islam, which has taken a moderate stance towards Jesus, assigning him a lofty role as one of the foremost messengers of God.

About the Author:

Dr. Rabee’ Ibn Haadee Al-Madkhalee is one of the well-known scholars of Saudi Arabia. He is a former graduate and professor at the renowned Islamic University of Madeenah. He has authored numerous books and treatises about Islam which clarify misconceptions and false notions concerning it.

[Read the Book : The Status of Jesus in Islam ]

Wisdom behind deeming pork as unlawful to eat

Q: What is the wisdom behind prohibiting the flesh of swine?

A: Allah’s knowledge encompasses all things and His mercy, wisdom and justice embrace all things. Allah (Glorified be He) knows best what benefits His servants. He shows them mercy. He conducts all His affairs with wisdom. He commands His servants to do what brings felicity to them in this life and the life to come. He makes lawful all good things which benefit them and makes unlawful to them all harmful things.

Allah has declared the flesh of swine as prohibited and stated that its flesh is impure.

Allah (Exalted be He) states:

Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be Maitah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of swine (pork); for that surely is impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allâh (or has been slaughtered for idols, or on which Allâh’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering).

Allah (Exalted be He) also states:

and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods)

• Factual evidence has proved that pigs feed on dirt and impure things which they eat avariciously.
• Medical experts state that worms are formed in the abdomen of eaters of the flesh of swine.
• It also weakens the human sense of honor and destroys chastity.
• Other harmful effects include indigestion and the inability to secrete digestive juices.

If their findings are proven true, then the flesh of swine is as an evil and impure substance. But if their findings are proven false, one of sound mind must still trust in Allah’s statement in the Qur’an which judges swine as impure. One must also believe in the prohibition of eating its flesh and submit entirely to Allah’s judgment.

It is Allah (Glorified be He) Who created it and He alone knows best its inherent harms. Does He know not that which He created while He is the Subtle, the All-Aware?

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholary Research and Ifta’

Member     Member     Deputy Chairman     Chairman
Abdullah ibn Qa`ud     Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan     Abdul-Razzaq `Afify     `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Source : http://alifta.com

Searching for Happiness? A call to non-Muslims

Happiness is a common goal that everyone strives to attain. Philosophers, intellectuals, doctors and artists alike, all are in search of the causes of happiness and ways to escape anxiety. The reality is however, that the solutions being presented achieve only partial or imaginary happiness. They are more or less like drugs, taken to feel temporary relief, but when their effect withdraws, anxieties return twice fold. This booklet before you invites you to ultimate happiness and will take you by the hand towards true success. An invitation from Dr. Saleh as Sindee of the Islamic University of Madeenah, Saudi Arabia.

Before you begin however, I would like you to take a moment and try and open your heart and mind to it, an intelligent individual searches for and accepts the truth, no matter where it lies.

A reality that cannot be denied is that permanent happiness cannot be achieved except by believing in God and following His guidance. Since it is He who created mankind, therefore it is He who knows what pleases, benefits, saddens and harms them. A number of philosophers have admitted that religious people lead content, worriless lives. So if believing in God leads to ultimate happiness, then how can this be achieved?

There are numerous religions and a variety of creeds, whoever analyzes them would realize that they differ in core issues making it impossible for all of them to be correct. So which is the correct religion, and which is the correct creed that God is pleased with and requires us to believe in? Which one of these creeds would guarantee us happiness in the life of this world and the hereafter?

Before I tackle these questions, we must first establish a correct basis, which we would then use to lead us to the correct religion and creed:

Any intelligent individual would agree that being raised upon a certain religion, in a society and with parents who adhere to that religion, does not necessitate that it is correct. So long as there aren’t any other substantial evidences to prove and convince people that this is the case. Since it is intellect that distinguishes us from animals, we must apply our intellect when studying an issue as grave and important as this.

A short journey into the world of religions and shifting through various creeds is a good method in arriving at the desired conclusion. In order to save you the time and effort, I say with full conviction and confidence; no matter how much you investigate this issue, you would only arrive at one reality, that the true and correct religion is Islam and true happiness and content lies with it.

Before you hastily rebut this statement and stop reading, please realize that completing the rest would not harm you in anything, and may benefit you.

You are an intelligent being, with intellect you distinguish things, and you can distinguish the truth from falsehood.

Why Islam?

An important question, indicating that the questioner is of sound mind and intellect, in response I say:

Islam is a religion that includes a number of characteristics that are absent from other religions, it contains substantial evidences that establish that it is the true religion sent by God. You can validate the authenticity of this statement by calmly and deeply thinking about the following:

Islam has a lot of merits and characteristics which makes it impossible to elaborate on all of them, however, I will present a few which can be summarized as follows:

1. Amongst the greatest merits of Islam, is that it fulfills the spiritual aspects of the human being and enables those who embrace it to have an ongoing connection with God. This makes it possible for them to be at ease spiritually. It shields them from chaos, being lost, and being spiritually anxious or psychopathic.
2. Another of Islam’s merits is that it never contradicts intellect. All of the Islamic legislation and its rulings can be acknowledged intellectually, they can never contradict intelligence. This is why we find that when a gentleman who embraced Islam was asked why he did so, he replied:
   

   ‘Islam never ordered me to do anything that I later wished that such an issue was not ordered, it also never forbade me from anything that I later wished that such an issue wasn’t forbidden.’

   It is difficult to accept a lot of principals that are present in other religions, principals that cause confusion, making one wonder about a lot of the essentials of other religions. On the other hand, we find that Islam respects intelligence, prohibits ignorance and condemns blind following.

3. Islam converges both religious and worldly life, it attends to both spirit and body. Practicing Islam does not mean that one has to be isolated, following a specific demeanor. It does not prohibit indulging in the finer things in life. Rather, a Muslim can be religious as well as lead a normal life, indulging himself in the best life has to offer, allowing him to reach the highest of positions and to achieve the greatest of achievements.
4. Amongst the merits of Islam, is that it is a comprehensive religion. Every aspect of a person’s life is regulated by Islam. There is not a problem except that a solution for it lies in Islam, which makes it possible to embrace and practice it in every time period or region How can this not be the case in such a well organized religion, it has rules and regulations for every aspect of life, starting from the rulings of judging and resolving disputes, moving on to the rulings of buying and selling, trade, social and marital relations, and ending with regulations concerning greeting, the mannerisms of the walkways, as well as regulating how a person deals with even his own self in issues related to sleeping, eating and dressing. All these regulations are addressed in detail, causing the mind to pause in wonder. Know that Islam even provides directions on how to wear and remove footwear, it encourages people to use their right hand when eating, drinking, shaking hands, giving and receiving items. As for disliked affairs such as using the bathroom, the left hand is to be used.When its time to sleep, Islam has wonderful directions regarding going to sleep and getting up. When two Muslims meet, Islam regulates how they should greet each other; a rider should initiate the greeting with a pedestrian, the young should initiate the greeting with the elderly, a small group should initiate the greeting with a larger group. These are but a few of Islam’s many comprehensive regulations for all aspects of life.
5. Another of Islam’s merits is that it establishes good for mankind in all its regulations and safeguards them from evil, it is mankind himself who benefits from these regulations. When Islam prohibits alcohol or drugs for example, this is only because of the great harms they have over the mind and health of a person. You can witness the state of a drunken man, no longer human except in appearance. A lot of murders, disputes, traffic accidents and rapes would not have taken place were it not for consuming these mind altering products. Islam prohibits sexual relations outside marriage, this is so mankind can avoid destructive diseases such as aids and so on, and so societies can be free of bad manners and avoid the existence of a bastard generation, a generation that is deprived of a mother’s love and a father’s upbringing, a generation that may be burdensome on a society. Islam prohibits women from displaying their bodies publicly in the presence of strange men, this is because it considers women to be esteemed, preserved pearls, not some cheap merchandise, to be displayed for all to see. It does so to protect women from the wolves of mankind, those who are only concerned with satisfying their lusts, even if it is at the cost of a woman’s honor, nobility, status and purity.On the other hand, Islam permits all harmless and beneficial drinks. It permits married couples to indulge in sexual relations within a happy home.In conclusion, Islam dose not limit freedom, it only regulates it for the benefit of mankind and the society that we live in.
6. A radiant aspect of Islam is that it pays a great deal of attention to praiseworthy manners and prohibits mankind form oppression, transgression and bad mannerisms. Islam is a religion of unity and mercy, it regulates an individual’s relationship with his parents, relatives, neighbors, friends and all people. It sows the best of manners in those who believe in Islam and prevents them from leading a selfish lifestyle, it encourages them to help others, take other’s feelings into consideration, such as the poor, orphans, the elderly and widows. They all have rights in Islam that must not be taken lightly by Muslims. Muslims shouldn’t feel like they are bestowing favors upon others when giving them their due rights, rather these rights are obligations upon Muslims. It is considered to be a sin in Islam for one to go to sleep with a full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry.Islam even prohibits two people from whispering to each other in the presences of a third, taking his feelings into consideration. Islam goes even further than that, obligating treating animals kindly and prohibiting harming them. From the particulars of Islam in such issues, is that it prohibits slaughtering an animal while another watches, or sharpening a knife while it is watching, so that it is not killed twice.Truthfulness, trustworthiness, bravery, generosity, humility, abiding by promises are all mannerisms that Islam encourages, in addition to visiting the sick, attending funerals, being dutiful to parents, visiting relatives and neighbors, and striving to help others are all manners that are encouraged by Islam.On the other hand, Islam utterly prohibits mankind from oppression, lying, being conceited, jealousy, mockery and insulting or betraying others. It is impermissible in Islam to speak ill of a person in his absence, even if what is being said is true. It encourages people to take the middle ground regarding spending their money, neither being spendthrifts nor misers.

During times when a lot of societies complain about cold heartedness, materialism, being conceited and so on, we find that Islam has the solutions for all these problems.

If what has preceded has given you a summarized introduction to Islam and some of its merits, then it would be appropriate to mention here that Islam is a clear religion that can be easily understood by anyone, it is a religion that has it’s doors wide open, they do not shut for anyone who wants to open them.

Since understanding all the regulations of Islam with a short article like this is impossible, then expounding shortly upon its most important regulations should at least increase in further clarifying it for those who want to learn about it.

All of Islam’s regulations and teachings are important, but some are more important than others, and there are six important articles of faith that one must believe in, and five pillars that have to be practiced.

As for the six articles that must be believed in:

1. Believing in Allah (God) alone, associating no partners unto Him in worship. This is done by believing that Allah alone is the creator of this universe and everything that is within it, and that it is He alone who disposes its affairs as He sees fit. Since this is the case, consequently worship can only be offered to Him alone. Worship is performing the regulations of Islam and implementing the legislation of Islam while believing that all other religions are false.
2. Believing in the angels. Angels were created by Allah but we can not see them. They worship Allah and never disobey Him, Allah orders them to carry out a lot of the affairs of the universe. The angel Gabriel for example, may peace be upon him, he delivers Allah’s revelation to the messengers. Another is Mikayeel, may peace be upon him, he is charged with the affairs of rain. Amongst them are angels who are charged with writing the deeds of mankind, deeds which they will be held accountable for on the day of resurrection. It is essential to believe that these angels only act upon the order of Allah and only do what He wills.
3. Believing in the Books of Revelation. This is done by believing that Allah revealed books to His servants containing His words. Books that contain bliss for mankind, clarifying what pleases Allah as well as what He dislikes. The Angel charged with delivering revelation to the Prophets is Gabriel, may peace be upon him, the greatest of angels. A prophet then conveys the revelation to the rest of mankind.Allah has revealed many books, amongst them: The Torah, Allah sent it to Moses, may peace be upon him. The Zabur which was revealed to David, may peace be upon him. The Bible, which was sent down to Jesus, may peace be upon him, and the Quran which was revealed to Muhammad, may peace be upon him.One must believe that all these books have been abrogated by the Quran, meaning that it is now the only book that must be acted upon after the Prophet (Muhammad) was sent. Not to mention that the Quran combines all the merits of past books and further supplements them. Know that the Quran if from the greatest of evidences that this is an authentic religion, revealed by Allah (God) the Majestic. The Quran was revealed 1400 years ago. Since then to this day, no mistakes or contradictions were found in the Quran, not even a single letter. Modern scientific discoveries revealed in the Quran are still being discovered today. Since that time until today, nothing has been added to or subtracted from the Quran, as is the case with previous revelations. It is for this reason that you can pick up a copy of the Quran in the far east and find it to be exactly the same as one you picked up in the far west. If you were to come across a copy of the Quran that is hundreds of years old, you would also find that it is exactly the same as one being printed currently, you wouldn’t be able to find even one letter that is different. This is because of Allah’s protection over this Book, a Book that sealed all other religions.Speaking about the Quran would take a lot of time, but it is enough for you to know that there is nothing like it, in terms of technique, the effect it has on people, and in terms of foretelling of future events as well as events that took place in the past.
4. Believing in the Prophets. This is done by believing that Allah has chosen the best of mankind to send His revelation down to and ordered them to convey His religion to the people. There are numerous Prophets, amongst them are; Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Lot, Joseph, Moses and others, may peace be upon all of them. Amongst them is Jesus, it is imperative to believe that he is amongst the best of Prophets, to love and respect him. Whoever hates him or denies the fact that he is a prophet is not Muslim. Likewise it is compulsory to believe that Allah created him from only a mother, with no father, as Allah was able to create Adam without neither a mother nor a father.Having mentioned this, we now know that Jesus is a noble messenger and not God, nor is he a son to God. He foretold of the coming of a prophet who would come after him; Muhammad son of Abdullah, the last of the prophets, there will be no prophet after him.Muhammad son of Abdullah, may peace be upon him, who was sent 1400 years ago, it is compulsory for every one who came after him to the Day of Judgment to believe in him, his message and obey his orders and prohibitions.All those who studied the biography of this messenger have agreed that he is a grand personality, who has been bestowed with the best of manners and the highest of characteristics by Allah. He had characteristics which were not present in anyone before him and would not be present in anyone after him. Anything that you read about him, no matter how small it is, would confirm what I am saying.Allah has also granted him proofs and evidences that establish the authenticity of his prophet hood, rendering having doubt in this fact intellectually impossible. Having been given such proofs and evidences of his prophet hood, whoever denies his truthfulness, would make it impossible for that individual to establish the truthfulness of any other prophet.
5. The last day. This is done by firmly believing that after this life of ours is over, there is another more complete life. There is an immense reward and magnificent luxuries in it, as well as punishment. Luxury is in Heaven and punishment in Hell. So whoever is righteous and believes in the religion of Islam would enter Heaven, a place which contains untold luxuries as well as bliss that cannot be imagined. All the luxuries present on earth cannot be compared to it at all. Whoever enters Heaven would continue to live in such luxuries for eternity, death does not exist therein.As for those who act upon evil and do not believe in Islam, they would end up in Hell, which contains fires and punishment that can not be imagined, all of the fires of earth and forms of punishment cannot be compared to the punishment of the hellfire at all.The existence of punishment and reward after this life is an issue that is intellectually acknowledged, because it is impossible for this world to exist and then just diminish into nothingness. This is trifling about, and our Lord, the creator, does not engage in trifle activities.
6. Believing in Divine Decree. This is done by believing that everything that takes place in this world is due to Allah’s knowledge and will. Nothing except what He wills takes place, and what He does not will, does not take place. Allah has written everything in a great book (the guarded scriptures). Believing in divine decree also includes believing that Allah created everything.

As for the five pillars that must be practiced:

1. Uttering a phrase that is the key to embracing Islam. It is a contract between a servant and his Lord, signifying that he is upon this religion:”Ashhadu an la ilaha ila Allah, wa ashadu ana Muhammad `abduhu wa rasulahu.””I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”It means that a person affirms and admits that worship must only be offered to Allah alone, in addition to acting upon that, that the religion of Islam is the correct religion, the only true God deserving worship is Allah, that all other gods are false and all other religions are also false [or abrogated].
2. The Prayer. It is only combination of specific as well as splendid sayings, actions and invocations. It is performed five times daily and doesn’t take much time at all. In fact, a prayer may not take more than five minutes. Prayers are the link between a servant and his Lord, it enables a Muslim to be confident, mentally and spiritually at rest, calm and untroubled.
3. The Zakaat. A wealthy Muslim must give a small portion of his money to the poor, 2.5 percent of his wealth to be exact. It is a minute amount, but it enables the Muslim community to be conciliated and merciful amongst each other. It propagates brotherhood, love and concern amongst Muslims. I repeat, Zakaat is only to be given out by the wealthy, not the poor.
4. Fasting. What is meant by fasting, is that a person withholds from eating, drinking and sexual relations during the month of Ramadan every year, between sunrise and sunset. The sick, travelers and those with valid excuses are pardoned from fasting, they are permitted to eat and drink but must make up missed days the following year after their excuses have expired.Fasting has a lot of health, personal as well as social benefits. Amongst them are; giving the digestive system a break, allowing Muslims to grow spiritually and practice good mannerisms. It enables Muslims to be conscious of their needy brothers and sisters, those who are unable to find enough food to satisfy their needs throughout the whole year. Consequently, Muslims would treat them with humility and strive to help them.
5. Hajj. It is a form of worship that must be performed only once in a lifetime, in Makkah. The sick and those who are not financially able to perform it are pardoned from doing so.There are many magnificent benefits in Hajj; the gathering of Muslims from all around the globe in one place, getting to know each other and displaying love for one another. In addition, Muslims achieve spiritual purification and rectify their mannerisms due to experiencing such a spiritual environment in the shade of Hajj.

To proceed, this should be sufficient in expounding some of the merits of Islam. I call on all Non-Muslims, listen to an honest person who only wants good for you: Save yourself before death takes you by surprise, dying as a Non-Muslim, what a great loss that is.

Do you know what dying as a Non-Muslim means? It means that you would enter the Hellfire, abiding therein for eternity. This is what Allah promised those who die as Non-Muslims. So how can you be negligent of an issue as grave as this?

I’m going to ask you a question, I hope that you can answer it honestly:

What would you lose if you embrace Islam?

If you embrace Islam, you could continue living your normal ordinary life, but in a more spiritual, organized and pleasant fashion, and after death, tremendous delight and eternal luxury awaits you.

If you reached a level of conviction, knowing that Islam is the true religion, but fear that embracing Islam would bar you from indulging in pleasures that you cannot live without, then compare these temporary pleasures with eternal pleasure. Which of the two is more important?

Furthermore, you can embrace Islam and then gradually try to reduce such pleasures, and if you were to honestly invoke Allah, He would surely aid you. In any case, embracing Islam and being sinful is better than not embracing Islam at all.

If your refusal of Islam is due to having a weak personality, the inability to make such a big decision, fearing what people may say about you, or people mocking you, know that these are just unrealistic thoughts. You would not be the first non-Muslim to embrace Islam, a lot of others have done so. They did not lose anything, their lives were not ruined nor do they have any regrets. Furthermore, can you possibly risk your own well being, contempt in the life of this world and in the hereafter just because you fear mockery or admonishment?

This affair is worthy of your time, contemplating upon it deeply.

My last words: Do not lose yourself! I ask Allah to bless you with true guidance.

D. Saleh Abdul Azeez.

One who wishes only the best for you.

Translated upon request by Shaykh Saaleh as Sindee to be printed and distributed freely.

Translated by: Abu `Abdul Waahid, Nadir Ahmad.

Internet Source : http://theclearsunnah.wordpress.com/

Wisdom behind Prophet Muhammad’s marriages

Source: General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta (alifta.net)

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married to several wives following his migration to Madinah. His practice of polygyny was not something novel, as polygyny was widely practiced by all people and nations. Some societies allowed unlimited number of wives until some men had more than seven hundred wives, not including slave women. Some Arabs were reported to have taken in marriage more than ten wives. When Ghilan ibn Salamah Al-Thaqafy embraced Islam, he was married to ten wives. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed him, saying: Choose four of them (and divorce the rest).

Polygamy was also practiced by the ancient Greeks in Athens, China, Babylonia, Assyria, ancient Egypt, and the Jews were also polygamous. Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) had seven hundred free women as wives and three hundred slave women. Al-Bukhari related in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith: Sulayman (the son of) Dawud (David) said, ‘Tonight I will go to a hundred women, each of whom will give birth to a boy who will fight in the Cause of Allah.’ The Angel said to him, ‘Say: In sha’a-Allah (If it be the Will of Allah).’ But he did not say so, as he forgot. He went to them but none of them gave birth, apart from one woman who gave birth to half a child. The Prophet (peace be upon him) further said, ‘Had he said: In sha’a-Allah, he would not have broken his oath and he would have had more hope of fulfilling his wish.’ The Christian church also permitted polygyny and did not object to it.

The Prophet’s marriage to nine wives at the same time was merely an implementation of Divine Instructions and Wisdom. Allah (may He be Exalted) states:
So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in the future) there may be no difficulty for believers in respect to (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allâh’s Command must be fulfilled. There is no blame on the Prophet (peace be upon him) in that which Allâh has made legal for him. That has been Allâh’s Way with those who have passed away of (the Prophets of) old.

Stating the fact that it is Allah Who made it lawful for His Messenger to marry several wives, He revealed:
O Prophet (Muhammad peace be upon him)! Verily, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), and those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses – whom Allâh has given to you Allah then limited the number of the Messenger’s wives to nine, all of whom he was forbidden to divorce. Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) states:

It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you

Therefore, the marriages of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were all necessitated by Divine Command. It is not permissible to compare other cases with that of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This matter was restricted to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) alone. None among the Muslim Ummah (nation) is permitted to marry beyond four women under the pretext that the Prophet (peace be upon him) married nine women.

Those who criticize the Prophet of Islam and brand Muslims as lustful are in manifest error. Worse still, we find Muslims who level blasphemous charges at the Prophet (peace be upon him) and take the subject of his marriages in jest. Had true faith entered their hearts, they would not have allowed such thoughts to occupy their minds. Had they carefully examined the circumstances that surrounded each marriage, they would have thought otherwise. The Prophet (peace be upon him) contracted marriages either to protect and support a widowed woman, or bring comfort to the families whose hearts were broken by the death of their beloved father, or to cement the bonds of love with the clan of his wives, or to honor a free woman who fulfilled Allah’s Command and went against the traditions of her society by marrying a slave rather than a master seeking the Good Pleasure of Allah.

Had the Prophet (peace be upon him) been lustful, he would have opted to marry when he was in his prime youth, a period when desire for sexual gratification is at its peak. However, he married several wives only after he had grown into old age, when his desire for women had weakened. At the young age of twenty-five, he was married to only one wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her), who was fifteen years older than him. She was forty while he was only twenty-five. He remained with her until she died.

It should also be noted that all the women whom he (peace be upon him) married had been married previously, except ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were:

1- Sawdah bint Zam‘ah ibn Qays Al-Qurashiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) got married to her following the death of her husband, Al-Sakran ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd Shams. This took place after the death of his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, in Makkah and before his migration to Madinah. When
she grew old, she gave up her day and night to ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her).

2- ‘Aishah bint Al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with her): The Prophet (peace be upon him) contracted marriage with her before Sawdah. However, he did not consummate marriage with her until after its consummation with Sawdah. Among all his wives ‘Aishah was the only virgin whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) married. His marriage to ‘Aishah was meant to strengthen the bonds of kinship with Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, the first man to embrace Islam and to support and believe in every word the Prophet (peace be upon him) uttered. He also sacrificed all his wealth for the sake of Allah.

3- Hafsah bint ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) took her in marriage although she was a previously married woman who lacked feminine charm. The Prophet (peace be upon him) married her because of the close relationship he had with her father.

4- Umm Salamah Hind bint Suhail Al-Makhzumiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her): The Prophet (peace be upon him) married her following the death of her husband, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd Al-Asad. His intention was to support her children. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) proposed to marry her, she said: “A woman like me is not suitable for marriage. I have become a barren woman, and I am jealous and have children.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied: I am older than you; as for jealousy, Allah will remove it, and as for children Allah and His Messenger are responsible for them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) then married her.

5- Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her after she was divorced by her husband Zayd ibn Harithah, the freed slave (and adopted son) of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) was rewarding her compliance with Allah’s Command. It was through this marriage that Allah established the permissibility of marrying the wife of one’s adopted son, a matter which was difficult for the community at that time to undertake. Allah (may He be Exalted) states:
So when Zaid had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that (in the future) there may be no difficulty for the believers in respect to (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allâh’s Command must be fulfilled.

6- Umm Habibah bint Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her after her husband, ‘Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh, apostatized from Islam. She stayed away from him until he died.
She was in her thirties when the Prophet (peace be upon him) married her. He contracted the marriage while she was in Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The Prophet (peace be upon him) authorized Al-Najashy to conclude the marriage contract. Her authorizer was Khalid ibn Sa‘id ibn Al-‘As. Al-Najashy gave her four hundred Dinars as Sadaq (mandatory gift to a bride from the groom). This took place in the seventh year of Hijrah (the Prophet’s migration to Madinah).

7- Juwayriyyah bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her after her husband Musani‘ ibn Safwan was killed on the Battle of Al-Muraysi‘. The Prophet (peace be upon him) intended to honor her people by this marriage relationship with them, especially after they had been taken as war captives in the Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq.

8- Safiyyah bint Huyay ibn Akhtab (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her to bring solace to her broken heart following the murder of her father, paternal uncle and husband.

9- Maymunah bint Al-Harith Al-Hilaliyyah (may Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her following the death of her husband, Abu Rahm ibn ‘Abd Al-‘Uzza Al-‘Amiry. This marriage took place in the seventh year of Hijrah. She (may Allah be pleased with her) was approaching forty by that time.

Source: alifta.net

Human Rights in Islam

Human Rights in Islam – Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Aziz Al al-Shaykh

Human Rights in Islam – The Grand Muftee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Shaykh ‘Abdul-’Azeez Ibn ‘Abdullaah aalush-Shaykh – expounds upon human rights as guaranteed to mankind by Allaah in Islaam.  These include, the right to life, women’s rights, rights of the family and others.  He explains the grave dangers of oppressing people and killing unjustly.  In conclusion, he clarifies the state of those who claim to support human rights, but oppress others in the process – oppression and transgression in the name of human rights!

Issues Covered in this Article:

On Human Rights in Islam:

“He produced from this human race Prophets and Messengers who were sent for the guidance and success of mankind in their worldly lives and in their Hereafter.  Indeed, Islām is concerned with the human being with a fully sanctioned concern.  So the prescribed laws (Sharī’ah) of Allāh have come to purify the servant (i.e. the human being) and they have come for his success in his worldly life and in his Hereafter.  So what are the acts of worship, except a refinement for the soul, purification for it and an education for it upon correct manners and higher ideals?”

Islam has Emancipated Mankind from the Worst Form of Slavery:

“So the greatest blessing from Allāh upon him is that Islām has liberated man from the slavery, the disgrace and the degradation of Shirk (associating others with Allāh in worship).”

On Equality in Islam:

“O people!  Indeed, your Lord is one and your father (i.e. Ādam) is one.  A non-Arab is no better than an Arab, nor is an Arab any better than a non-Arab.  And there is no excellence for a black person over a white one, nor is there any excellence for a white person over a black one, except due to taqwā (righteousness).  The Religion of Islām has preserved human rights in truth; it has preserved them in all aspects of life.”

The Right to Life in Islam:

“And from Islām’s concern for mankind is that it has made aggression unlawful upon him.  So Islām affirms his right to life and it affirms that life is a right for him.  No one is allowed to take a life, except for the One who granted it (i.e. Allāh), and He is capable of all things.”

On Women’s Rights in Islam:

“It has liberated her from those who seek to oppress her, whether they do it by depriving her of her rights, or by trying to deprive her of her Religion and sense of honour.  Islām has safeguarded her honour and protected her nobility.  So Islām respects the woman as a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sister.”

On Rights of the Family:

“So it gave the parents their rights, and the wife her rights and the husband his rights and to the children their rights.  And in Islām the neighbours have rights.  And Islām has concern for the neighbours, concern for the relatives and the close companions.”

True Human Rights are in Islam:

“The rights are not a favour granted by human beings.  Rather, they are from the favour of Allāh.  There are rights within Islām that mankind in general deserves, rights with regards to politics, economics, education and societal rights.  These rights have been affirmed by Islām and they do not change, because they have been issued by the Sharī’ah of Islām.”

“And if the Muslims were to ponder carefully upon the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah of His Prophet, they would surely see that the truth and justice is within these two – always and forever.”

[Go there  now and Read the full article]

why does Islam not prohibit slavery?

Q: It is said: why does Islam not prohibit slavery?

A: Allah (Exalted be He) has the perfect knowledge, wisdom, kindness and mercy. He is All-Knowing with the matters of His creation, Compassionate with His servants and Wise in His creation and legislation. Therefore, He legislated for people that which makes them good in the world and in the Hereafter and that which will guarantee their real happiness, freedom and equality in fair circumstances, comprehensive guidance and within limits that do not transgress the rights of Allah and that of His servants. He sent this legislation with His Messengers as announcers of glad tidings and warners. So he who follows His path and follows the guidance of His Messengers, deserves dignity and attains success and bliss. Whoever refuses to follow the straight path, he deserves to be killed or enslaved in order to establish justice, maintain security and peace and safeguard lives, honor and properties.

For these mentioned causes, Jihad (striving for the cause of Allah) was legislated to deter the oppressors and eliminate the corruptors and clean the earth from the wrongdoers.

Whoever among them is captured by Muslims, the ruler has the choice either to kill him if his evil is eminent and he will not be corrected, or forgive him and accept a ransom from him if he can be deterred by that or lead him to goodness.The ruler may take him as a slave if he believes that holding him among Muslims will correct him, rectify him and cause him to find the way to guidance, believe in and submit to it due to what he can see of Muslims’ justice, their kindness and good treatment. He may also listen to the texts of legislation and morals. Accordingly, his heart may be opened to Islam, Allah will make faith dear to him and make disbelief, transgression and disobedience unpleasant to him. Then, he will start a new life with Muslims to gain his freedom by an agreement of freedom. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And let those who find not the financial means for marriage keep themselves chaste, until Allâh enriches them of His Bounty. And such of your slaves as seek a writing (of emancipation), give them such writing, if you find that there is good and honesty in them. And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allâh which He has bestowed upon you. This also may be achieved through the expiation for false oath, Zhihar (a man likening his wife to an unmarriageable relative), vow or the like. It also may be achieved through the way of emancipation for the sake of Allah, seeking His reward and other kinds of emancipation. Therefore, it will be known that the origin of slavery is the capturing in Jihad against the disbelievers to correct those who were captured by isolating them from the evil environment they lived in and starting a new life in a Muslim community to guide them to the path of goodness, save them from evil, purify them from the effects of disbelief and error and make them deservea better life in which they enjoy security and peace. Slavery in Islam is like a purifying machine or sauna in which those who are captured enter to wash off their dirt and then they come out clean, pure and safe from another door. May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member                 Member                     Deputy Chairman        Chairman
Abdullah ibn Qa`ud     Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan     Abdul-Razzaq `Afify    Abdul-`Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz

Source: http://alifta.com/

The likeness of Jesus is as of Adam

The likeness of Jesus is as of Adam
Reference: Kutub wa Rasaa-il al ‘Abbaad
Author: Al ‘Allaamah ‘Abdul Muhsin al ‘Abbaad

The saying of Allaah the Elevated:

{Indeed the likeness of ‘Eesaa (Jesus) before Allaah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was. The truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.} [Aal ‘Imraan: 59-60]

‘Eesaa son of Maryam [Jesus son of Mary], may the Salaat and Salaam be upon him, is a servant and messenger of Allaah in the Islaamic legislation, the Word of Allaah that He bestowed upon Maryam and a Rooh – spirit from Him.

He is a servant [of Allaah] who must not be worshiped, a Messenger [of Allaah] who must not be belied. The Jews and Christians have either gone to extremes or deficiencies concerning him.

The Jews were cold and deficient towards him, as they described him as being a bastard child. The Christians on the other hand went to extremes concerning him, by worshiping him alongside Allaah.

Allaah created him, with His ability, from Maryam without a father, just as he created Adam from earth, He created Hawaa [Eve] from Adam and then created the rest of mankind from both male and female.

These are the four categories of creation that mankind is restricted to. Allaah mentioned the creation of Adam and Hawaa and the rest of mankind – except ‘Eesaa – in the beginning of Surat an Nisaa saying:

{ O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawaa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women…} [An Nisaa: 1]

Allaah then completed [the categories of creation] by creating ‘Eesaa without a male, but this is a lesser category than Adam’s creation which was with neither a male nor female. For this reason Allaah said:

{ Indeed the likeness of ‘Eesaa (Jesus) before Allaah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was.} [Aal ‘Imraan: 59]

The creation of ‘Eesaa was with the word ‘Kun – [Be]’ just as the creation of Adam was with ‘Be’. This is what came in the Islaamic legislation and it is the truth without doubt, this is why Allaah then said:

{ The truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.}[Aal ‘Imraan: 60]

He also said in Surat Maryam:

{Such is ‘Eesaa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). (It is) a statement of truth about which they doubt (or dispute).}[Maryam: 34-35]

Commenting on this Ayah, ibn Katheer stated:

“Allaah the Elevated says: {Indeed the likeness of ‘Eesaa (Jesus) before Allaah} In relation to Allaah’s ability as he created him without a father {is as the likeness of Adam.} For Allaah the Glorified created him without a father or mother {He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: “Be!” – and he was. The truth is from your Lord}. Therefore the One who created Adam without a father is able to create ‘Eesaa in a simpler fashion. So if it can be claimed that ‘Eesaa is the son of Allaah because he was created without a father, then it can also be claimed that Adam is the son of Allaah for the same reason and more, and it is known with consensus that this is falsehood, so claiming that ‘Eesaa is the son of Allaah for this reason is therefore a greater and more apparent falsehood. But the Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, wished to show His ability to His creation when he created Adam without a male or female, Hawaa with a male without a female, ‘Eesaa with a female but without a male and the rest of mankind from both male and female.”

Another example of these four categories in the creation of mankind is in the creation of the children of Adam, as Allaah blesses some of them with sons, some with daughters, some with both sons and daughters and some without either, as Allaah said:

{To Allaah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is All-Knower and is Able to do all things.} [Ash Shuraa: 49-50]

Likewise are the four categories in contentment and misery, amongst mankind are those who are born as believers and die as such, others are born as disbelievers and die as such, some are born as disbelievers and die as believers and others are born as believers and die as disbelievers. The evidence for the latter two categories is the Hadeeth of ibn Mas’ood where it states:

By the One, other than Whom there is no other deity, indeed one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and what has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and indeed one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and what has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.” [Narrated by both Bukharee and Muslim]

Internet Source

Biblical evidence of Jesus being a servant of God and having no share in Divinity

Jesus and  Muhammad (peace be upon them) in the BIBLE and the QUR’AN
Biblical evidence of Jesus being a servant of God and having no share in Divinity

by Dr. M. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali, Ph.D.
Professor of Islamic Faith and Teachings, Islamic University, Al-Madina

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INTRODUCTION

All praise be to the One to Whom all Dignity, Honour and Glory are due; the Unique with perfect attributes, Who begets not, nor is He begotten. He has no equal but He is the Almighty, Omnipotent. He sent His Messengers and Prophets to guide humanity towards monotheism; to worship Him Alone, the only One Worthy of worship, and to warn them of the eternal dire consequences of polytheism; associating partners with One Allah and the worship of creatures.

Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon all the Prophets and Messengers, especially on Muhammad, the last of the Prophets, and on all who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Recompense.

CHRISTIANITY: MEN WITHOUT RELIGION

ISLAM: RELIGION WITHOUT MEN

A Muslim never lacks proofs about the purity and truthfulness of his religion, but what he lacks are those truthful brothers who stand for Allah and His Prophet SAW testifying to the truth. Indeed, in this age, Islam is a religion without men (custodians and propagators) whereas Christianity is men without a religion; yet, by their endeavour, adventurous spirit, patience and monetary contributions they are able to falsify truth and make falsehood appear true. In this materialistic age most of humanity have become slaves to wealth, fashions, and mansions.

There is none worthy of worship but Allah and in Him (Alone) do I put my trust, and towards Him am I destined.

JESUS AND THE DEVIL IN THE BIBLE

In the New Testament of the Bible, in the fourth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, the sixth and seventh verses clearly indicate that Jesus is an obedient mortal and God is the Master and Lord according to his saying in the seventh verse:

“It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God.”

In this chapter we read that the Devil actually carried the Messiah, and took him from place to place. How can the Devil carry God? Glory be to Allah; He is above such blasphemy!

Then the Devil orders him to prostrate before him and worship him, even tempting him with worldly possessions. How can the Devil even dare such an audacity with God? When the Devil wanted Jesus to comply with his orders, he (Jesus) replied by saying that it was written (in the previous Books):

“Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God; And Him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10.

CHILDREN OF GOD

Jesus never called himself Son of God as far as I know but he used to call himself the ‘Son of Man’ (ref. Mark 2:10) although he heard himself being called by that name he did not object as assumed in the Bible and did not consider the title exclusively for him.

According to the Biblical term in the Old and New Testaments, every God- fearing righteous person is called ‘Son of God’. In Matthew 5:9 we read:

“Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

In Matthew 5:45 -

“That ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven…”

GOD THE FATHER

In Matthew 5:48 -

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

In Matthew 6:1 -

“… otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21 -

“Not every one that sayeth unto me (Jesus), Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven.”

N.B. The word ‘Lord’ here was translated as Rabb in the Arabic version of the Bible so that people may be convinced that Jesus is God! But if one studies the rest of the verse, one will note that the verse bears testimony to the subservience (to God’s Will) of the Messiah (Jesus). Therefore the correct translation should be:

“Not every one that sayeth to me, O my Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

It is obvious from the above readings from the Bible that the term ‘Father’ is used for God in numerous places in the Bible. It is never used exclusively for the Messiah (Jesus).

Matthew 11:25 -

“At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes.’”

JESUS THE WORSHIPPER

Matthew 14:23 -

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray…..”

I say: If he (Jesus) is God or a part of God then why did he pray? In fact, prayer is always from a submitting, needy and dependent one for the Mercy of Almighty Allah as mentioned in the Qur’ân. (V. 35:15):-

“O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise” (35:15).

And in (V. 19:93) of Qur’ân:-

“There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) as a slave.”

A BIBLICAL STORY

Matthew 15:22-28 -

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying; ‘Send her away, for she crieth after us.’ But he answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ But he answered and said, ‘It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.’

And she said, ‘Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.’ “

In this story about a woman from Canaan there are noteworthy points:

(1) Lack of mercy and love charged against Jesus (if the incident is reported correctly).

(2) Degraded discrimination in regard to the uplifting of his tribe and not for the others.

(3) Tribal pride of descendance and prejudice against others and calling them dogs.

(4) An ignorant polytheist woman debated with him and won him over.

JESUS: A PROPHET OF ALLAH.

Matthew 19:16-17 -

“And behold, one came and said unto him, ‘Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ And he said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? (There is) none good but one, (i.e.) God, but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ “

In the above verses we note this acknowledgment of his submissiveness (to Allah’s Will).

Matthew 21:45-46 -

“And when the chief priests and pharisees had heard his parable, they perceived that he spoke of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude because they took him for a Prophet.”

Here it is proved that all those who believed in Jesus during his life-time did not believe in him being God or the Son of God or one in the doctrine of Trinity; but they believed in him as being a Prophet only. This is indeed one of the strongest points of evidence against those who believe in the Divinity of Jesus (Incarnation of God) if only they pondered.

JESUS: A SERVANT OF ALLAH.

Matthew 23:8 -

‘But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your master, even Jesus, and all ye are brethern.”

Here it is clearly proved that Jesus was servant of Allah, and that there is only One Master and He is Allah. In the Arabic version of the Bible this verse has been translated so that Jesus is meant to be the master whereas the English rendering is nearer the original sense.

Matthew 23:9 -

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father which is in heaven.”

From this you will note that fatherhood and sonship is meant to be the relationship between the Lord and His servants: it is meant in a general sense and not specifically for Jesus.

Matthew 24:36 -

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

This is a definite proof that the Final Hour is unknown to any but Allah, thus Jesus’ knowledge is imperfect like all other men; Allah Alone is All-Knowing, Omniscient.

Matthew 26:39 -

“And he (Jesus) went a little farther, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’ “

We note here that the person speaking is unaware of Allah’s Will and realizes the fact that he is a servant of Allah. He (Allah) Alone can cause the change.

THE COMPILATION OF THE BIBLE

Matthew 27:7-8 -

“And they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called the Field of Blood, unto this day.”

From these verses we understand that the Bible (the New Testament) was not written during Jesus’ life-time but long after the occurrence of the events described, having been retained in the memory of the people.

Matthew 27:46 -

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli,Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’)”

This is according to their (Christians’) assumption that Jesus cried in a loud voice saying the above words while he was being crucified. This is a great insult as such words could only come from unbelievers in Allah. Further, it is incredible that such words should come out from a Prophet of Allah because Allah never breaks His Promise and His Prophets never complained against His Promise.

JESUS: PREACHER OF MONOTHEISM (TAUHID)

In John 17:3 -

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent.”

In Mark 12:28-30 -

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ And Jesus answered him: ‘The first of all the commandments is; hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.’ “

In Mark 12:32 -

“And the scribe said unto him, ‘Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is One God; and there is none other but He.’ “

In Mark 12:34 -

“…he (Jesus) said unto him, ‘Thou art not far from the kingdom of God…’ “

In these verses, Jesus (peace be upon him) himself had testified that Allah is the One God, there is none other than Him, and that whoever believes in His Oneness, he is near the Kingdom of Allah. Therefore whoever associates partners with Allah or believes in the Trinity is far away from the Kingdom of Allah, and whoever is far away from the Kingdom of Allah he is the enemy of Allah.

In Matthew 24:36 -

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of the heaven, but my Father only.”

I say: A similar text was quoted from S.Matthew which is exactly as proclaimed by the Qur’ân in that none knows when the Hour will come except Allah. This establishes the fact that Jesus was subservient to Allah and that he had no share in Divinity: that he was an incarnation of God, was an innovation by the people of Canaan.

In John 20:16 -

“Jesus said unto her, ‘Mary’. She turned herself, and sayeth unto him, ‘Rabboni’, which is to say, Master, Jesus saith unto her, ‘Touch me not: For I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she has seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.”

In the above narrative Jesus clearly testified that Allah is his God and their God, making no difference between him and them in the worship of the One Allah. Whoever believes that Jesus is God has indeed blasphemed against Allah and betrayed the Messiah (Jesus) and all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.

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BIBLICAL PROPHECY ON THE ADVENT OF MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him)John 14:15-16 -

“If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever.”

Muslim theologians have said that “another Comforter” is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah; and him to “abide forever” means the perpetuity of his laws and way of life (Sharia’) and the Book (Qur’ân) which was revaled to him.

John 15:26-27 -

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

John 16:5-8 -

“But now I go my way to Him that sent me and none of you asketh me ‘Whither goest thou?’ But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and approve righteousness and judgment.”

John 16:12-14 -

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and he shall shew it unto you.”

John 16:16 -

“A little while and ye shall not see me: and again a little while, ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

Muslim theologians have stated that the person who is described by Jesus to come after him in the above verses does not comply with any other person but Muhammad (peace be upon him) the Messenger of Allah. This ‘person’ whom Jesus prophesied will come after him is called in the Bible ‘Parqaleeta’ This word was deleted by later interpreters and translators and changed at times to ‘Spirit of Truth’, and at other times, to ‘Comforter’ and sometimes to ‘Holy Spirit’. The original word is Greek and its meaning is ‘one whom people praise exceedingly.’ The sense of the word is applicable to the word ‘Muhammad’ (in Arabic).

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FINALITY ON PROOFS ON THE FABRICATION OF THE STORY OF THE CROSS

(1) The Bible testifies to the fact that Jesus was known among the Jews; he used to preach and deliver sermons in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. It was therefore, unnecessary to hire a Jew for thirty pieces of silver to direct them to him as related in S. Matthew.

(2) It is related that one of the twelve disciples named Judas Iscariot was hired to direct the Jews to Jesus. They then sentenced him after which Judas was greatly ashamed and dissociated himself from their act and then committed suicide. All this took place within twenty four hours. The contradictions are obvious.

(3) The clearest proof which alone is sufficient to discredit this story is when the Jews passed the sentence of death against Jesus and intended to get the approval of the governor, Pontious Pilate.

Matthew 27:11-14 -

‘And Jesus stood before the governor: The governor asked him, saying, ‘Art thou the king of the Jews!’ And Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou sayeth (sayest)’: And when he was accused of (by) the chief priests and elders. He answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, ‘Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?’ And he answered him never (to) a word…”

The Christians will interpret the above verse to mean that Jesus wanted to die on the Cross for the redemption of mankind and for the forgiveness of their sins: if so, then why did he ask to turn away that cup from him (i.e. death)? Why did he cry out while on the Cross (as they assume): “O Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?” How could he have remained silent when the truth was being challenged? He was known for his soul-inspiring sermons challenging the learned Jewish Rabbis. No sane person can believe in this. If the story of the Cross is disproved then the very foundation on which Christianity is based, will be demolished.

Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified by the Jews as revealed in the Holy Qur’ân by Allah in a crystal clear manner: V. 4:157,158.-

“And because of their saying (in boast): ‘We killed Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’; – but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, they killed him not (i.e., Jesus, son of Mary). But Allah raised him (Jesus) up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he alai-hiss-salaam is in the heavens).. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.”

The Jews themselves, together with the entire Christian world, believe that he was crucified. As proofs against their views and to prove the truth of the Muslim verdict through the Bible, I prepared the following set of questions based on the Book of S. Matthew in the New Testament of Bible. (Chapters 26 and 27):

(1) Did those who captured Jesus (according to their assumption) know him in person? or did they not know him?

S. Matthew testifies that they did not know him.

(2) Was it during the day or night that he was captured?

S.Matthew says it was during the night.

(3) Who was the one that directed them to him?

S. Matthew says: He was one of his twelve disciples called Judas lscariot.

(4) Did he direct them free of charge or for a fixed reward which they specified, for him?

S. Matthew says: He directed them to him for a fixed reward of thirty pieces of silver.

(5) What was the condition of Jesus during that night?

S. Matthew says: He was fearful and prostrated in prayer saying: “O God, if it is possible for You to let this cup pass from me, then let it pass.” It is incredible that such words could come from a believer in God, let alone a Prophet of God, because all believers believe that God has power over all things.

(6) What was the condition of his eleven disciples?

S. Matthew says: Sleep overcame them that night together with their teacher (according to their assumption) out of fear.

(7) Was Jesus contented with their condition?

S. Matthew says (verses 40-46): He was not satisfied. He used to come to them to wake them up saying: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” Then he would come again to find them asleep and he would again wake them up and say the same thing. This weakness could not have been spoken of righteous pupils even if they were pupils of an ordinary pious teacher, let alone the disciples of Jesus, son of Mary.

(8) Did they help him when those ruffians captured him?

S. Matthew says: They forsook him and fled.

(9) Did Jesus have confidence in his disciples that night?

S. Matthew says: Jesus informed them that they will all forsake him. Then Jesus said unto them: “Verily I say unto thee that this night before the cock crows, thou shall deny me thrice.” Peter said unto him, “Although I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” Likewise also said all the disciples. And so it happened.

(10) How did those ruffians capture him?

S. Matthew says: They came to him with swords and staves after they were directed to him by a Jew, then they captured him as described in verse 57:

“And they that had laid hold on Jesus, led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the elders were assembled.”

There they passed the sentence of death on him. The ruffians then took him away, spat on his face and struck him with their hands after which they stripped him of his clothes and clad him in scarlet robes, then placed a crown of thorns on his head and took him about, teasing and mocking him. They said to him: ‘You are the king of Israel according to your claim.’ They severely degraded him.

(11) Who finally decided to pass the death sentence against him?

S. Matthew says: He was Pontious Pilate, a Greek Roman, who was at that time the governor of Palestine.

(12) When the ruffians brought that man before the governor and informed him that the priest of the Jews passed the sentence of death by crucifixion according to their law (Torah), did he believe in them without investigation?

S. Matthew says: He did not believe them but asked that man: “Is it true what they have said?” He remained silent. The question was repeated and he continued to remain silent. He remained silent in view of the truth; it was essential for him even if he was not a Prophet to clarify the truth and deny the false accusation of the Jews. The governor’s wife went to the governor and she said to him: “Have thou nothing to do with that just man? for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

The Bible states that Jesus delivered lengthy speeches to the Jews rebuking and warning them which amounted to defaming them. Then why was he silent that day? The governor’s intention for asking him was to stand for the truth.

(13) How was he crucified according to their assumption?

S. Matthew says: They crucified him between two thieves both of whom abused him by saying to him, “If you are truthful then save yourself.”

(14) This was a great calamity. What did he say while on the cross (according to their assumption)?

S. Matthew says (27:46):

Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, Iama sabachthani? (that is to say,) my God, my God, why has Thou forsaken me?”

This is a blatant declaration of disbelief according to all theological authorities. Whoever relates it to a Prophet is a disbeliever according to the revealed religions.

Almighty Allah, in the Qur’ân warns, the Jews and the Christians against their blasphemy; that Jesus is an incarnation of God (Allah) or the son of God (Allah) or in rejecting him totally; and that they must believe in him as a Messenger of Allah only:

“And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him (Jesus, son of Mary, as only a Messenger of Allah and a human being), before his (Jesus alai-hiss-salaam or a Jew’s or a Christian’s) death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he (Jesus) will be a witness against them.” (V.4:159).

 Dr. M. Taqî-ud-Din Al-Hilâlî
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khân
Islamic University, Al-Madina Al-Munawwara