Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of fasting, and it is also the month of Qur’an. It was during Ramadan that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} (Chapter 2, verse 185 of the Holy Qu’ran)

Eager to gain the rewards in this month, many of us rush to read the entire Qur’an and we compete to complete even more than once before the month is over. While dedicating your time to reading the Qur’an is no doubt praiseworthy, I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters to take a slightly different approach this Ramadan.

Rather than hastily reading through, why not pick a certain chapter or chapters of the Qur’an and delve deeply into the meanings of the verses, the lessons to be learned, the context in which they were revealed during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), studying the history, and also the implications the verses carry for our lives today? Rather than simply, we need to work hard to understand the Qur’an. Alternately, you can pick a certain topic and research it in-depth in the Holy Qur’an, for example, stories of the prophets, or the description of Paradise. Another recommendation is to use the Qur’an as a blueprint to develop your character. For example, study the verses which speak about patience or piety or the characteristics of a believer in general.

For a class which I offer the girls in our community, we picked Surah Al-Israa, the Chapter of the Night Journey, to explore the meanings of the verses, and we have learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the classes.

The Qur’an, the word of God, is a book of guidance for humanity. Students of the Qur’an never cease to be amazed by the wonders found in it. Researchers have studied the numbers of times that certain words are repeated in the Qur’an which causes us to appreciate the Qur’an even more.

The word ‘day’ (yawm) is repeated in its singular form 365 times, while the plural and dual forms, ‘days’ (ayyam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times. The number of repetitions of the word ‘month’ (Shahar) is 12.

The words ‘Paradise’ and ‘Hellfire’ are each repeated the same number of times, 77 times. The significance I draw from this is that the believer must live his/her life in a balance between fear of Allah and fear of the punishment, but also hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, and the yearning to enter Paradise.

The words, ‘world’ (dunya) and ‘Hereafter’ (akhira) are repeated an equal number of times, 115 times. Although there may not be great importance in the numbers, we should ponder on the importance of mentioning this world and the next world an equal amount of times in the Qur’an.

The ultimate priority in a believer’s life is worshiping Allah, but that does not mean we can neglect our duties and responsibilities of building and protecting this Earth. What comes to mind is the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

At the same time, we must not become so immersed in this world’s pleasures and problems that we neglect our worship. Neither work nor entertainment should blind us from dedicating enough time to the service of others and worshiping Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of becoming entranced by worldly affairs; he said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them” (Riyad as-Salihin by Imam Nawawi)

Another finding in the Qur’an I marveled over is the reference to the land and sea. The word ‘land’ appears 13 times in the Qur’an and the word ‘sea’ 32 times, giving a total of 45 references. The number of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of references to the sea in the Qur’an, 32, and multiplied by 100 is 71.1%. Extraordinarily, these figures represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Islam growing faster than any other religion

Islam growing faster than any other religion

According to a recent BBC News report, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. If trends continue, Islam will overtake Christianity by 2070, becoming the world’s largest religion, as stated by research published by the US-based Pew Research Center.

In 2010, Indonesia had the largest Muslim population in the world, with 205 million Muslims.

It is estimated that by 2050, India will have the largest Muslim population in the world, reaching 311 million Muslim.

The Christian population in the United Kingdom and France will drop below 50%, and 10% of the people in Europe are forecast to be Muslim in 2050.

In the US, 1 in 50 people are expected to be Muslim by 2050.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Why ours is a different religion

image by:saudigazette

Why ours is a different religion

Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and intelligible. It is free from superstitions and irrational beliefs. The oneness of God, the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic. All of the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no farfetched abstractions, no complicated rites or rituals.

Everybody may approach the Qur’an directly and translate its dictates into practice. Islam awakens in man the faculty of reason and exhorts him to use his intellect. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Qur’an advises him to seek knowledge and invoke God to expand his awareness: “Say ‘O, my Lord! Advance me in knowledge’.” (Qur’an, 20: 114)

God also says: “Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (Qur’an, 39: 9)

It is reported that the Prophet (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) said that: “He who leaves his home in search of knowledge (walks) in the path of God.” (At-Tirmidhi) and that, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah and Al-Baihaqi)

This is how Islam brings man out of the world of superstition and darkness and initiates him into the world of knowledge and light.

Again, Islam is a practical religion and does not allow indulgence in empty and futile theorizing. It says faith is not a mere profession of beliefs, but rather that it is the very mainspring of life. Righteous conduct must follow belief in God. Religion is something to be practiced and not an object of mere lip service. The Qur’an says: “Those who believe and act righteously, joy is for them, and a blissful home to return to.” (Qur’an, 13: 29)

The Prophet is also reported to have said: “God does not accept belief if it is not expressed in deeds, and does not accept deeds if they do not conform to belief.” (At-Tabarani)

Unity of matter and spirit

A unique feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands not for denial of life but for the fulfillment of life. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid material things. It holds that spiritual elevation is to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, not by renouncing the world. The Qur’an advises us to pray as follows:

“Our Lord! Give us something fine in this world as well as something fine in the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, 2:201)

But in making use of life luxuries, Islam advises man to be moderate and keep away from extravagance, God says: “…and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.” (Qur’an 7:31)

On this aspect of moderation, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Observe fasting and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep, for your body has its right over you, and your eyes have rights over you, and your wife has a claim upon you and the person who pays a visit to you has a claim upon you.”

Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between “material” and “moral,” “mundane” and “spiritual” life, and enjoins man to devote all of his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends and not by living a life of asceticism or by running away from the challenges of life.

The world has suffered at the hands of the one-sidedness of many other religions and ideologies. Some have laid emphasis on the spiritual side of life but have ignored its material and mundane aspects. They have looked upon the world as an illusion, a deception, and a trap. On the other hand, materialistic ideologies have totally ignored the spiritual and moral side of life and have dismissed it as fictitious and imaginary. Both of these attitudes have resulted in disaster, for they have robbed mankind of peace, contentment, and tranquility.

Even today, the imbalance is manifest in one or the other direction. The French scientist, Dr. De Brogbi rightly says: “The danger inherent in too intense a material civilization is to that civilization itself; it is the disequilibria which would result if a parallel development of the spiritual life were to fail to provide the needed balance.”

Christianity erred on one extreme, whereas modern western civilization, in both of its variants of secular capitalistic democracy and Marxist socialism has erred on the other. According to Lord Snell: “We have built a nobly-proportioned outer structure, but we have neglected the essential requirement of an inner order; we have carefully designed, decorated and made clean the outside of the cup; but the inside was full of extortion and excess; we used our increased knowledge and power to administer to the comforts of the body, but we left the spirit impoverished.”

Islam seeks to establish equilibrium between these two aspects of life — the material and the spiritual. It says that everything in the world is for man, but man was created to serve a higher purpose: the establishment of a moral and just order that will fulfill the will of God. Its teachings cater for the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of man. Islam enjoins man to purify his soul and to reform his daily life – both individual and collective — and to establish the supremacy of right over might and of virtue over vice. Thus Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a moral man in the service of a just society.

Islam, a complete way of life

Islam is not a religion in the common and distorted sense, for it does not confine its scope to one’s private life. It is a complete way of life and is present in every field of human existence. Islam provides guidance for all aspects of life – individual and social, material and moral, economic and political, legal and cultural, and national and international. The Qur’an enjoins man to embrace Islam without any reservation and to follow God’s guidance in all areas of life.

In fact, it was an unfortunate day when the scope of religion was confined to the private life of man and its social and cultural role was reduced to naught, as has happened in this century. No other factor, perhaps, has been more important in causing the decline of religion in the modern age than its retreat into the realm of private life. In the words of a modern philosopher: “Religion asks us to separate things of God from those of Caesar. Such a judicial separation between the two means the degrading of both the secular and the sacred ... That religion is worth little if the conscience of its followers is not disturbed when war clouds are hanging over us all and industrial conflicts are threatening social peace. Religion has weakened man’s social conscience and moral sensitivity by separating the things of God from those of Caesar.”

Islam totally denounces this concept of religion and clearly states that its objectives are the purification of the soul and the reform and reconstruction of society. As we read in the Qur’an: “We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure; and He revealed iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind, and that God may know him who helpeth Him and His messengers, though unseen. Lo! God is Strong, Almighty.” (Qur’an, 57: 25)

God also says: “The decision rests with God only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not.” (Qur’an, 12: 40)

Thus even a cursory study of the teachings of Islam shows that it is an all-embracing way of life and does not leave out any field of human existence to become a playground for the forces of evil.

Article by: islamreligion.com

10 Reasons Why Islam is the Religion of Truth

10 Reasons Why Islam is the Religion of Truth

1)  In 23 Years, Muslims Went from Being Powerless to Control the World.
When Islam started in Mecca, it was the prophet Mohammed by himself. A one man religion. He was exposed to punishments and oppression. The people who first entered Islam were weak and also were oppressed and tortured by the pagans of Mecca (their relatives). Forward 23 years later to see the transformation of these uneducated powerless individuals to the most powerful ones and to control the world.
The Arabs at the time of the prophet peace be upon him (6th century) were tribes and clans fighting each other. The Romans and the Persians were vast powerful empires. Forward 23 years later to see how some powerless individuals were able climb the mountain of world power to take over the Persian empire and the Roman empire and introduce new world order.
Not only did this transformation achieve miraculousness in its happenings but it’s also marvelous in its timing and its duration.
Had it not been to Islam, the world would be different (much worse). The heroes of Islam would not have been heroes but would have been forgotten.


2)  The Quran and its Eloquence as a Linguistic Miracle.
As the Arabs of that time were so linguistically gifted, a linguistic miracle was fit for the situation. Quran was sent to people who were so eloquent in the Arabic language. If the Quran was not a linguistic miracle, then any of the Arabs and Arab poets in Mekkah (where the prophet peace be upon him stayed for 13 years calling people to worship Allah alone) would come up and say some poetry to challenge the Quran (since the challenge to them was clear) but none was able to challenge the eloquence of the Quran.
The miraculousness of the Quran is an axiom to whomever studies Arabic academically.


3)  Inheritance and Economic System in Islam
Not only that, but the Islamic heritage system was revealed in only 2 verses. The Islamic heritage system is one that is comprehensive and astonishing in its detail. It has covered all cases and all situations in the most fair way. Such system was not known at all at the time of the prophet peace be upon him. No other religion has such system. How can an illiterate man come up with such system? A system that had no equal at that time.
The Islamic economic system is also a system of wonders. It has the compatibility to encompass all types of old and new business maneuvers. It also has the ability to provide welfare for all people. It’s not a theory but a system which is implemented throughout the world and has been applied through history with ultimate success.
How can an illiterate man from the 6th century come up with such system? How can a Sheppard in the desert in the Arabic peninsula design such a system? A system that had no equal at its time. A system which competes with the most recent business and economics sciences and is proven to have more success.
The answer is: he couldn’t. It was revealed to him.
http://quranicteachi....uk/economy.htm
http://en.wikipedia....Islamic_Banking


4)  Islam is the Only Religion that Makes Sense in Terms of Spirituality and Materialism
In our world, religion becomes more of a shopping center where almost every person could come up with a religion or a version of a religion. It makes it hard to distinguish the true religion from the fake ones. Some have went all spiritual on the scale of spirituality. Others have gone all the way to materialism. Only Islam can gather both ends in a harmonic mixture. In Islam, Muslims are to build this earth and make it prosper be it in agriculture, industry, sciences, etc. We are ordered to protect life and property of all people who do not transgress and oppress us. We are ordered that if the day of Judgement comes and one has a plant in his hand to plant it. We are allowed to marry, have children and enjoy life.
On the other hand, we are also responsible for our actions and we will be accounted for them. We should always work for the hereafter and wish to please God our creator.
Islam is also a whole way of life. It deals with economics. It sets rules for dealings between humans and animals to dealings between humans and humans to rights of neighbors and parents to the relationship between human beings and the creator.

5)  Scientific Proof in the Quran and the Sunnah
Just to make it clear, the Quran is not a science book but it does not contradict with science.

6)  Quran is the Only Book which Has Been Protected from Altercations
Whether you are a Muslim or not, one thing all scholars have agreed upon: The Quran has been preserved as it was revealed to the prophet in the 6th century. Copies of the Quran are still available in Tashqand and Cairo. One of the properties of the Muslim Nation is “ISNAD”. Isnad means having narration chains where each person in the narration chain is well known and has his life recorded and studies.
The holy Quran has been narrated through narration chains where a large group of narrators who are of very strong memory and minds have narrated the same text from one generation to the next (with the condition of actually meeting each other and listening to each other with no time gaps). This large group of narrators cannot all agree on a lie. The names and the life stories of EACH person is recorded and studied. Each narrator has his whole family recorded.
These narrations have agreed with the copies from the Quran.
Compare that with the current bible for example where there is no recorded narration chains (without putting the condition of having no time gaps or even having names for those narrators). Compare the Quran with current bible where you have thousands of manuscripts; no two are the same. Compare that with the writers of the bible where you only have one name: John who? Luke who? What is their last name?
The Quran has been revealed in Arabic and it’s read in Arabic. For the first time, the people speak the language of the prophet not the other way around. There are translations of the Quran in different languages but the Quran is in Arabic and should be read in Arabic noting that ‘translations of meaning’ is different than a version.
The Sunnah or the traditions of the prophet are protected through the same narration chains.
That being said; the Quran and the Sunnah have two distinct styles which have never contradicted.


7)  God in Islam is the Creator
Most people who do not believe in God have an altered image of God. I do not believe in God who has human qualities. I do not believe in God who is born and can die. I do not believe in God who has human weaknesses. I do not believe in God who hisses and can manifest himself in his creations such as a cow. Hence, many Christians and other religious followers have doubts in their Gods and then some of them throw these doubts behind their backs and say we have faith while others just throw these doubts and refuse the idea of God.

I do believe in God who is the creator of the heavens and the earth. I believe in God who has created everything that lives. So who is God in Islam?
God describes himself in the Quran as: Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî [1] extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursî ]

8)  Islam is the Largest Spreading Religion in this World
Islam is the largest spreading religion in the western world and not because Muslims have more children than others. More than 20000 Americans convert to Islam each year. 4000 have converted to Islam in Germany this year alone. Thousands are converting to Islam in Latin America. WHY? Where is my proof? hereis my proof and hereand hereand here.

9)  Have You Been to a Masjid?
If you have been to a Masjid, you would know what the word equality means. You would see Americans with Asians with Arabs with Hispanic all in one place; all are brothers who will protect each other and truly love each other. You would see all nations and colors in one place bowing down for the creator. Hundreds of years and millions of dollars would never gather these people together and make them brothers but Islam did. Don’t believe me; visit any Masjid near you and there is probably one near you.

10)  Consistency of Islam in Changing Times
Whether you are a Muslim or a person who attacks Islam such as Daniel Pipes, you would agree that Islam has been constant in these changing times. Nothing else has been constant. Muslims still think the old way; the way of the prophets and the way which God has revealed his book.

Article by: http://en.islamway.net

10 Reasons Why I Chose Islam as my Religion?

1. Islam is a religion of peace

Islam comes from the Arabic word salama, salima and aslama.

 Salama- peace and harmoni

Salima – original or authentic.

Aslama – submitting to the will of Allah SWT.

Islam is the original religion that gives Muslims peace of mind and requires us to submit to the will of God. Besides man, all creations of Allah SWT submit to the will of Allah.

Allah SWT is always  there to help us and He says:

{وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ}

'Translation' {And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.}  [Al-Baqarah 2:186] .

Once  we ask Allah SWT for help, know that Allah knows best what is good or bad  for us [Al Baqarah 2:216] , have trust in Allah SWT [Al Imran 3:160] . Rest the problem with Allah SWT and as such we can achieve peace of mind.

 2. Islam is the oldest religion.

Islam began with the creation of Adam. Adam and Eve commited a sin and Allah SWT forgave them. Then Allah SWT sent a messenger to each race [Al Imran 3:19] to inform them the one message that is worship Allah SWT alone. All the messengers were Muslims for they all submit to the will of Allah SWT and He says:

{قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ}

  'translation' {Say (O Muhammad SAW): "We believe in Allâh and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob) and Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)] and what was given to Mûsa (Moses), 'Iesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allâh) we have submitted (in Islâm).}[Al Imran 3:84] .

 Prophet Muhammad was sent as the last Prophet and final Prophet. [Al-Ahzab 33:40]. Then Allah said in Surat Al Maidah:

{الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ}

'translation' {...This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above-mentioned meats), then surely, Allâh is Oft­Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [Al-Ma`ida 5:3]

 3. Allah SWT is All-Merciful and forgives all sins except making partners with Allah SWT (syirik).  [An Nisa 4:48]

 We should worship only one God and only Allah is worthy of worship. [Taha 20:14]. Allah is the Arabic world for God, the only one and Supreme God. If there are more than one God, the function of the Heaven and the Earth would have failed. [ Al Anbiaya 21:22].With many Gods, they would surely find a way to dethrone the Master of the Throne. [Israa 17:42]

 Allah SWT does not punish all disbelievers until those who are shown the right path continue to disbelieve and then they will be cast into Hell. [An  Nisa 4:115] Allah SWT is All-Merciful for He will never punish until a messenger is sent to provide guidance and warning. [Israa 17:15].

 4. The concept of punishment in the next world, Heaven and Hell  deters man from doing bad and encourage doing good. [Al Hashr 59:18].

 5. Islam is a way of life. Allah SWT sent down Al Qur’an to guide us to the right path in this world and the next world.
 Quran confirms other Books. [Yunus 10:37; Al Imran 3:3]

 6. Allah SWT  invites man to embrace Islam.
“If you do not accept the challenge (to come up with 10 Surah similar fabricated chapters) know that Quran is sent down with the knowledge and power of Allah and none has the right to worship except Him. So do you still embrace Islam or not? [ Hud 11:13-14]

 7. The only religion that is accepted by Allah is Islam. [Al  Imran 3:85]
Indeed the only religion with Allah is Islam.[Al Imran 3:19].

 8. Islam is a universal religion. [Al-'Anbyā' 21:107]
Prophet Muhammad  Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him is sent to convey glad tidings and warner to all mankind. [Al-Ahzab 45-47]


9. Islam  gives solution to every problem.
Islam prescribes a solution for each world problem, for example:
Zakat –eradicates poverty [at-Taubah 9:71] and protects the society from crimes and social class clashes.
Hudud – discourage man to commit crimes [al-Maidah 5:38].
Wasiat – distribution of wealth to heirs after death with fairness.
Allah SWT has prescribed prayer for man to prevent man from forbidden activities. [Ankabut  29:45]


10. With Muslim who has knowledge of Islam will find Islam an easy religion.
Allah SWT has not put any hardshipon us. [Al Baqarah 2:185; Al Hajj 22:78]
Allah SWT  provides exceptions to His commands for example; the sick and pregnant women who are not fit to fast may choose not to fast in the month of Ramadan and replace the fasting at a later tiime, prayer can be shorten for travellers, only those who have wealth needs to pay zakat and Haji is compulsory only for those who can afford. These are some examples to name a few.

Article by: en.islamway.net