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drmaqazi · 2 months

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

THE RELIGION OF PEACE

Monotheistic religion

Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centered on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, the religion's founder. Adherents of Islam, called Muslims, number approximately 1.9 billion globally and are the world's second-largest religious population after Christians.

TypeUniversal religion

ClassificationAbrahamic

Scripture: Quran

Theology: Monotheistic

Language: Classical Arabic

Territory: Muslim world

Founder: Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam)

Origin: CE 610, Jabal al-Nour, Hejaz, Arabia

Islam means to achieve peace – peace with God, peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of God – through wholly submitting oneself to God and accepting His guidance.

The term Islam derives from the three-letter Arabic root, S (س)- L (ل)- M (م), which generates words with interrelated meanings, including “surrender”, “submission”, “commitment” and “peace”. Commonly, Islam refers to the monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad ibn (son of) Abdullah between 610 and 632 of the Common Era.

The name Islam was instituted by the Qur’an, the sacred scripture revealed to Muhammad. For believers, Islam is not a new religion. Rather, it represents the last reiteration of the primordial message of God’s Oneness, a theme found in earlier monotheistic religious traditions.

Though Islam can be described as a religion, it is viewed by its adherents – a fifth of the world’s population – in much broader terms. Beyond belief in specific doctrines and performance of important ritual acts, Islam is practiced as a complete and natural way of life, designed to bring God into the center of one’s consciousness, and thus one’s life. Essentially, by definition Islam is a world view focused on belief in the One God and commitment to His commandments.

What is the Essence of Islam?

Prophet Muhammad mentioned in a narrative the best summary of the core of Islam as follows:

“Submission means that you should bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger, that you should perform the ritual prayer, pay the alms tax, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to go there."

"Faith means that you have faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you have faith in the measuring out, both its good and its evil."

"Doing what is beautiful means that you should worship God as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you."

WHO IS ALLAH اللّهَ?

The Arabic word Allah literally means “The God”. Believers in Islam understand Allah to be the proper name for the Creator as found in the Qur’an. The name Allah is analogous to Eloh, a Semitic term found in the divine scriptures revealed to Muhammad’s predecessors Moses and Jesus (may peace be upon them all).

The use of the term Allah is not confined to believers in Islam alone — Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use Allah in reference to God, demonstrating thereby that followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism believe in a common monotheistic Creator, a fact that many people are surprised to learn.

One reason for this may be that English-speaking persons are accustomed to the term God, whereas believers in Islam, regardless of their native language, use the Arabic word Allah. This difference in usage may cause people to view the term Allah with reticence and uncertainty, preventing them from making the connection between the Arabic name and the accepted English equivalent term.

Who is God in Islam?

The Qur’an, the divinely-revealed scripture of Islam, contains numerous verses describing the nature of God. The role of human beings as creations of God upon the earth and their relationship with God are also discussed extensively in the sacred text:

"Say: He is Allah, the One" (Quran 112:1) -

"Allah, the eternally Besought of all" (Quran 112:2)

"He begetteth not nor was begotten" (Quran 112:3)

"And there is none comparable unto Him" (Quran 112:4)

"And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks" (Quran 16:78)

"Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware" (Quran 6:103) \

Muslims believe that God has no partners or associates who share in His divinity or authority and that God is transcendent, unlike His creations, and thus has no physical form. Nor is God believed to exist in (or be represented by) any material object. A number of divine attributes or “names,” which serve to describe God, are found in the Qur’an. Some commonly known attributes include the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, the Most High, the Unique, and the Everlasting, among others.

Are humans an image of God?

In Islam, human beings, like other creations, are seen as completely unlike God, though they may aspire to exhibit various attributes manifested by God, such as justice or mercy. Furthermore, even while God is believed to be beyond traditional human perception, the Qur’an states:

"His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and, unto Allah (all) things are brought back" (Quran 57:5) -

For Muslims, God’s Oneness heightens the awareness that ultimately all life is bound by Divine Law emanating from a singular source and that life has a meaning and purpose which revolves around the consciousness of God’s presence.

Moreover, belief in a singular Creator compels conscientious Muslims to view all humanity as one extended family and treat others with justice and equity. Respect for the environment and natural resources also follows from the Muslim view of God.

WHAT IS THE HOLY QURAN ALL ABOUT?

The word Qur’an literally means “the reading” or “the recitation”, and refers to the divinely revealed scripture given to Muhammad. Since Muhammad is considered the last prophet of God, the Qur’an is believed to be the final revelation from God to humanity.

The Qur’an is considered by Muslims to be the literal Speech of God given to Muhammad in the Arabic language. The chapters and verses of the Qur’an were revealed throughout Prophet Muhammad’s mission, over a span of close to twenty-three years, from 610-632 C.E. Contrary to common misconception, Muhammad is not the author of the Qur’an. Rather, he is viewed as the chosen recipient of and transmitter of the revelation and the ideal implementor of principles and commandments contained therein. The personal sayings or words of Muhammad are known as hadith, which are distinct from the divine origin of the content of the Qur’an.

As verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Muhammad and subsequently repeated by him to companions and other fellow Muslims, they were written down, recited and memorized. The Prophet also typically led the formal worship five times daily, during which he recited the revealed verses according to the procedure that he established. The verses were also recited out loud by designated Muslims in the early dawn hours and prior to the worship times and other important occasions. In short, the Qur’anic verses played an immediate and practical role in the spiritual lives of Muslims from the outset. Before he passed away, the Prophet arranged the 114 chapters into the sequence we find in the Qur’an as we have it today. Scholars, both Muslim and non-Muslim, agree that the Qur’an has remained intact and unchanged to the present. The Qur’an as a scripture stands unique in this regard.

Translations of the Qur’an exist in many languages throughout the world, including English, Spanish, French, German, Urdu, Chinese, Malay, Vietnamese, and others. It is important to note that while translations are useful as renderings or explanations of the Qur’an, only the original Arabic text is considered to be the Qur’an itself.

WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

The word Muslim literally means "one who willfully submits (to God)." Islam teaches that everything in Creation — microbes, plants, animals, mountains and rivers, planets, and so forth — is "muslim", testifying to the majesty of the Creator and submitting or committing to His divine laws. Human beings, also, are considered fundamentally ”muslim” (submitters to God) in their original spiritual orientation, but being unique creations endowed with abilities of reason, judgement, and choice, they may remain on a God-conscious, righteous path towards divine reward, or may veer away as a consequence of upbringing and life-choices.

More commonly, the term Muslim refers to one who believes in the Shahadah (the declaration of faith containing the basic creed of Islam) and embraces a lifestyle in accord with Islamic principles and values. Anybody may be or become a Muslim, regardless of gender, race, nationality, color, or social or economic status. A non-Muslim who decides to enter Islam does so by reciting the Shahadah, (pronounced La-Ilaha Ila Allah, Muhammad-un Rasool Allah) witnessing that "there is no deity but Allah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger."

WHERE DO MUSLIMS LIVE?

Over 1.8 billion people throughout the world are adherents of Islam. Islam is the religion of diverse peoples living in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central, East, South and Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, and North and South America. The global spectrum of races, ethnicities and cultures finds representation in the worldwide Muslim community.

Muslims throughout the world share the same essential beliefs, values, and God-centered approach to the world. Furthermore, all Muslims look to the Qur’an and the lifestyle and traditions of Prophet Muhammad for guidance in their daily affairs. In this respect, Muslims share a common Islamic culture, focusing on shared principles and values.

At the same time, the ethnic, regional or material cultures of Muslims vary tremendously across the globe. Muslims exhibit different styles of clothing, different tastes for food and drink, diverse languages, and varying traditions and customs.

Muslims view the diversity found throughout the world as a natural part of God’s plan for humanity and believe it contributes to Islam’s continued vitality and universal ethos. Consequently, rather than imposing arbitrary cultural uniformity, diverse cultural practices are encouraged and supported. So long as a given cultural practice or tradition does not violate teachings of Islam it is considered legitimate and possibly even beneficial.

Why Don't Muslims Speak Out Against Terrorism?

THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH - MUHAMMAD (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam)

Islam teaches that Muhammad’s role as the final prophet of God was to confirm the authentic teachings of previous prophets and to rectify mistakes or innovations that followers of previous monotheistic faith traditions had introduced into the original religion of humankind. Muhammad is also viewed as the conduit for the completion of God’s guidance to humanity; the scope of his mission is seen as encompassing all people, rather than a specific region, group or community. Furthermore, his life serves as a perfect model of how to practice Islam fully.

"And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not" (Quran 34:28) -

Essentially, Muslims view Islam not as a “new” religion, since it embodies the same message and guidance that God revealed to all His messengers, but rather a reestablishment of the “primordial” religion of humankind, centered around recognizing God’s Oneness and adhering to His commands. The view of Islam as having achieved its final form through the scripture given to Muhammad and his own teachings is an important aspect of faith. Consequently, Muhammad is considered the final messenger of God, the “Seal” of the Prophets. Any claimants to prophethood after Muhammad, who died in 632 C.E., are not accepted by Muslims.

"Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is Aware of all things" (Quran 33:40) -

BEGINNING OF ISLAM

THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (SallAllahu 'alaihi wa Sallam)

The early life of Muhammad including his work as a merchant, his marriage to Khadijah, his early revelations and the persecution of early Muslims by his own Quraysh tribe.

Prophet Muhammad lineage all the way to Adam

whyIslam, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34108290

IS ISLAM COMPATIBLE WITH THE MODERN WORLD?

According to Islam, men and women are spiritually equal beings created from a common origin. All of the religious obligations in Islam are incumbent upon both women and men. God’s mercy and forgiveness apply equally to men and women. The following Qur’anic verse, arguably the first gender-equity statement in any major scripture, illustrates this point:

"Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember--Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward" (Quran 33:35) -

As a consequence of physiological, psychological and other distinguishing factors embodied in men and women by the Creator, the rights, responsibilities, and roles of men and women are believed to naturally differ. Muslims believe that God has assigned the responsibility of providing financially for the family to men, and the important responsibility of fostering a God-conscious and righteous family to women. Such roles do not preclude women from having careers and earning income or men from helping to raise a family. Rather, they provide a general framework for Muslim society, designed to reinforce the concept of a nuclear family unit.

The guidelines for men and women’s roles are also meant to ensure dignified and proper relations between people of the opposite sex. Minimal mixing of the sexes in Muslim societies should not be construed to imply inequality or confinement. Rather, such measures are designed to protect individuals from unsolicited attention, inappropriate sexual attraction, adultery and possibly other forms of violence such as rape.

Since the seventh century the Qur’an specified the natural and inherent rights of women as well as men, and enjoins people to act in line with God’s teachings of justice and equity. Islam gave gave women the right to own and inherit property, the right to obtain an education, the right to contract marriage and seek divorce, the right to retain one’s family name upon marriage, the right to vote and express opinions on societal affairs, and the right to be supported financially by male relatives (husband, father, brother, etc.).

Such rights were unheard of in the seventh century, yet were implemented to varying degrees in Muslim civilization throughout the last fourteen hundred years. It is also important to recognize that only in the last two centuries have such rights been available to women in Western societies. Clearly, common stereotypes regarding women’s rights must be carefully considered, and the current practice of Muslims in various countries and regions must be examined within the context of history and within light of the sources of Islam in order to ascertain the degree to which Muslim women are able to exercise their rights today. Prevailing cultural factors must also be taken into account.

Do Muslims believe in laws beside the religious law (Shariah)?

The term Shari’ah means “the path” or literally “the way to a watering place.” Shari’ah is commonly used to mean divinely-revealed “Islamic Law,” which plays a central role in the lives of Muslims throughout the world.

On a societal level, in some Muslim countries Shari’ah is implemented as the basis for the judicial system and for regulating the collective affairs of citizens. Other countries implement a hybrid of Shari’ah and civil law, while some others do not implement Shari’ah at all.

Muslims living as minorities in countries such as the United States abide by the civil laws of the land. However, because of the importance of Shari’ah in enabling the practice of Islam as a complete way of life, Muslims may express a desire for implementation of Shari’ah for themselves. Interestingly, in England, Muslims have established a religious parliament that works with the British government to enable implementation of Muslim personal laws, which deal with matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and other issues.

What is Islam’s view on human rights and social justice?

According to Islam, human beings are the noblest creations of God, endowed with consciousness and freedom of choice. The Qur’an states that God has made human beings His trustees or stewards on the earth. Muslims see this world as God’s field, and human beings as the caretakers. Muslims believe humanity’s ultimate task is to build a world that reflects the will of God. Thus, Islam is balanced in its concern for salvation in the Hereafter as well as peace and justice in the present world. Islam places great emphasis on social justice for all people. Muslims consider it an obligation to oppose all who exploit, oppress, discriminate, and deal unjustly with people.

"O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (than ye are). So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth) and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do" (Quran 4:135)

Muslims understand the goal of Islam to be the spiritual upliftment of the individual and productive development of society. The ultimate consequence of rejecting God, His guidance and teachings is an unjust society. Conversely, the natural consequence of obedience to God’s laws and living according to His guidance is a society of peace, equality, freedom from want, dignity for all, and justice.

WHAT IS JIHAD?

The Arabic word jihad means “struggle” or “exertion” and refers to any spiritual, moral or physical struggle. In the personal sphere, efforts such as obtaining an education, trying to quit smoking, or controlling one’s temper are forms of jihad.

Jihad as a military action is justified in two cases: struggle to defend oneself, or others, from aggression and struggle for freedom of religion and justice. The Holy Qur’an says:

"They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel his people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso becometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter. Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein" (Quran 2:217) - and therefore must be thwarted.

Systematic, forced conversion to Islam is a historical myth. Muslims defeated hostile forces and gained control of new lands where Islamic rule was established, yet non-Muslim inhabitants were not forced to become Muslims. Islam clearly condemns such actions: “There is no compulsion in religion.” (Qur’an, 2:256). In the course of time, many non-Muslims did find the message of Islam appealing and converted to Islam, resulting ultimately in the transformation of society at all levels.

Because jihad is a highly nuanced concept, the term “holy war” is an inappropriate rendering or definition. In fact, for Muslims, war can never be holy, and the equivalent Arabic term for holy war "harb muqaddasah" never occurs in the Qur’an. Instead, war can be just or unjust, but never holy.

What about all the terrorists?

Contrary to popular misconception, Islam does not condone terrorism. Prophet Muhammad and his companions prohibited the killing of civilians and non-combatants in the course of warfare. The Holy Qur’an says:

"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not, aggressors" (Quran 2:190) -

Moreover, the Qur’an and the Prophet prohibited the torturing of prisoners and the senseless destruction of crops, animals and property.

Struggle against injustice is a key, distinctive concept in Islam. Through the ages, the concept of righteous struggle has inspired Muslim peoples and movements to stand up against oppression and tyranny, as in the case of the wars of independence against colonialism.

While some Muslim extremists may perpetrate acts of terrorism, this does not diminish the legitimacy of righteous struggle against oppression and injustice experienced by Muslims in many parts of the world. Indeed, such terrorists violate the teachings of Islam.

"O ye who believe! Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity, and let not hatred of any people seduce you that ye deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Informed of what ye do" (Quran 5:8) -

In any case, there can be no such thing as “Islamic terrorism”, despite the fact that such terms have become a popular oxymoron. The adjective “Islamic” cannot be applied to what some misguided Muslims do.

1001 INVENTIONS AND LIBRARY OF SECRETS

The Dark Ages where humans thoughts were oppressed, humans prosecuted and Europe was plagued by famine, wars and poverty. But what about the Muslim world? How did they create the first university? Who was Abbas ibn Firnas? And how did Al Khwarizmi lay down the foundation to computers (Hint: algorithm)?

ISLAM IN AMERICA

An estimated five to seven million Muslims live in North America, and of these, over two and a half million are Americans who have embraced Islam. The United States Department of Defense reports that there are currently more than 9,000 Muslims on active duty in the U.S. armed services. A number of leading American scientists, physicians, sports figures, and scholars are Muslim. Clearly, Muslims are part of the diverse fabric of the United States, playing a productive role in our society as neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, schoolmates, and friends. The diversity of Muslims in the United States is a hallmark of the community — virtually every race, ethnicity and culture is represented among American Muslims, making for a unique experience not found anywhere else in the world.

Currently, there are more than 2150 Masjids (Mosques) throughout the United States, as well as over 400 Islamic schools (126 full-time), three colleges, 400 associations, an estimated 200,000 businesses, and over 200 publications, journals, and weekly newspapers.

The history of Islam in the U.S.

The history of Islam in the New World in some sense precedes that of the United States itself. Some researchers claim that certain artifacts, found in the Mississippi delta and other locales, antedating the European “voyages of discovery,” lend credence to the possibility of Arab or African expeditions. European sailing vessels, including those under Christopher Columbus’ command, often enlisted Muslim crew members, due to their expertise in maritime navigation.

Later on, in American history, as many as 20% of the slaves brought to the United States from Africa were Muslims (before being forcibly converted to Christianity). Another group of Muslims, Spaniards known as Mudejars, established roots in the New World after the conquest of Granada in 1492 and the expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain resulting from the Inquisition. The influence of these highly-skilled Hispano-Arab Muslim craftsmen and artists has had far-reaching effects in American architecture and design, which are still in evidence today, especially in the American Southwest.

In the modern era, since the late 1800s, Muslims from all over the world, along with people of other faiths, have immigrated to the U.S. to make a better life for themselves and to contribute their unique talents and sensibilities to the ever-evolving American social matrix. In the last fifty years, a dramatic increase in native-born American Muslims and converts to Islam has taken place as well, providing new generations of Muslims prepared to interact fruitfully with fellow Americans and raise the contributions of the community to higher levels.

Islam in United States of America

Is Islam one of the most recent religions to come to the US? Or its roots are deeper in the fabric of this nation? And who are the current Muslims in America? This video is a view of Islam and Muslims in the US.

WHO ARE WE?

We believe in and strive for the nobility of consciousness, truthfulness of expression and goodness of action. We believe that peace blossoms through love and justice and in times where “me” becomes “we” and “mine” transforms to “ours”.

We believe that true faith inspires a deep reverence for life, love for the living, care for the environment, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. We believe that all creation is part of God’s (Allah’s) family while the best of people are those best to God’s (Allah’s) universal family.

We are on a mission to empower, nurture, protect, and promote values that affirm human dignity, human rights and the integrity of creation while making the world healthier, peaceful, and more beautiful.

REFERENCES:

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4innovalevante · 7 months

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Mittwoch, 25. Oktober 2023

Am verzauberten See

Es geht nichts über eine Unterkunft mit Pferdestall: Louisa taucht kurz nach einem kleinen Frühstück zu den Pferden ab, Kilian tritt kurz vor der Abfahrt zur Kurzwanderung in Erscheinung, vorher ist Tiefschlaf. Sehr entspannt.

Die Wolken sind wieder sehr dick, aber wir ziehen dennoch los. Ziel ist DER tourististische Hotspot in der Gegend: Der Karer See. Wir parken an der Moser Alm, was ein sehr niedlicher Begriff für das große Resort und Spa ist. Aber das lassen wir links liegen und gehen gemütlich bergab. Erst zur Schuler Mühle, wieder hergerichtet von der Welschnofener Schützenkompanie.

Danach gemütlich durch den Wald zur Hängebrücke. Die ist .... ganz nett. Also weder über einem Tal, noch atemberaubend hoch noch sonderlich lang. Aber ganz nett. Und wie schon auf dem Waldweg sieht man noch viele umgewehte Bäume herumliegen.

Der erst 10 bis 15 Jahre alte Großparkplatz kündet schon von architektonischer Schönheit. Tatsächlich sind Toilettenanlage, Zugang und Gastro am Karer See eine reine Touristenhölle. Der Vorteil eines trüben Oktobertages: Es ist kaum was los. Und die Bar, die noch offen hat, sieht gut aus. Reife Südtiroler treffen sich in dem kleinen Raum auf ein Getränk und einen Mittagssnack, Cappucchino für 2,50 Euro, ein Glas Wein würde 1,5 Euro kosten.

Danach gehen wir durch eine Art Betonkathedrale vorbei am stahlbewehrten Parkautomaten (!) zum See. Der liegt tatsächlich wunderschön türkisfarben da. Zu dieser Jahreszeit mit einem Tiefststand von 5 Metern, zur Schneeschmelze können es aber auch 17 Meter Wassertiefe sein. Der wohl internationaliste Ort Südtirols, selbst an diesem trüben Mittwoch. Wir stellen fest: Das Picknick zweier asiatischer Reisender unterscheidet sich mit Eiern, Trauben, Baguette nicht wirklich von dem, was wir sonst im Gepäck haben.

Mit einem Abstecher zum Negripass fahren wir zurück. Um 15.30 Uhr kann Louisa endlich mit dem Bauern Norbert zu einem Ausritt losziehen! Es geht über den Panoramaweg und durch den Wald - Tochter im Glück.

Gegen 17.30 treffen wir uns mit Norbert und Monica (spanische Mama der beiden Berliner Mädels, die mit Louisa im Stall wohnen) zu einer Hofführung. Norbert erzählt viel Spannendes über die Geschichte die Hofs und zwischen den Zeilen hören wir, dass er eher Reiter und Musiker ist und den Hof übernommen hat, weil ihn halt jemand übernehmen musste. Konsequenterweise ist es heute ein Hof mit Reitstall und seiner privaten Musikkneipe. Wir plauderm bei einem Aperitivo noch lange in der alten Stube - und dann geht der Abend schnell vorbei. Der Kühlschrank ist endgültig leergekocht.

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basicsofislam · 7 months

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ISLAM 101: ALMS AND CHARITY: VIRTUES OF ZAKAT: Part 7

ZAKAT IS A MEANS FOR MERCY

Zakat is a major instrument in attracting the mercy of God, as those who achieve His eternal compassion are, justifiably, those who observe divine commands. Nurturing compassion for others through taking care of their needs is, no doubt, a means to attain that limitless treasure—Celestial Mercy. The Noble Prophet (upon whom be peace) has highlighted this fact: “God treats with compassion those who treat each other with compassion. For that reason, have mercy on the earthly, so the Heavenly has mercy on you.” The Qur’an reinstates the mercy attracting aspect of zakat:

My mercy embraces all things; therefore I shall ordain it for those who ward off (evil) and pay the zakat, and those who believe in Our signs (revelations).” (A’raf 7:156)

Establish the prayer and pay the zakat and obey the Messenger, that perhaps you may find mercy. (Nur 24:56)

The Noble Messenger has further illustrated how charitable acts are virtually a magnet for the mercy of God: “Whoever has gathered, within himself, these four attributes will be immersed in

God’s mercy and granted Paradise: Protecting the poor, assisting the weak, kindness towards the slave and charitable towards the parents.”6 It should be stressed that all these praiseworthy acts entail, more or less, a degree of finance.

Zakat also acts as a shield, vigorously protecting the giver against numerous pitfalls of the soul; in such a way, it is another manifestation of Divine Compassion. However, if zakat ceases to be observed, the benefits may well be withdrawn, as pointed out by the Prophet: “The Celestial gates of compassion will shut on those who disregard zakat, depriving them of rain. Surely, if it weren’t for the roaming beasts, they would receive none of it (rain).”

The truth is that zakat is a strong means, now and the Hereafter, of procuring the boundless compassion of God. Wherever zakat is observed, animals also obtain a share in this divine feast of mercy; and in places where the observance of zakat has fallen, animals remain the only reason for the provision of rain, as the inhabitants have ignorantly slammed shut the gates of mercy by their disregard of the obligation of zakat.

ZAKAT PREVENTS MISERLINESS

The love of property has intrinsically been a part of human inclination for many concealed purposes. Overindulgence in this fondness, however, will indubitably result in a shameful dissipation. This innate inclination possessed by a human, in which overexploitation leads to miserliness, is highlighted in the Qur’an: “…Human souls are prone to selfish avarice” (Nisa 4:128).

In history, miserliness has been the sole culprit in the destruction of many civilizations, as reiterated by the Messenger of God:

Beware of miserliness, as those before you were ruined because of it. Their rulers enjoined miserliness, the public acted in accordance; their rulers ordered them to sever kindred ties, the public hastened to severe; their rules commanded transgression which they immediately saw too.”

One of the etymological derivatives of zakat is tazkiya, signifying purification. It purifies the poor of envy and hatred and conversely, purges the sinister disease of miserliness from the spirit of the rich. The acknowledgment of the rights of others in property, a notion that zakat inherently conveys, unfetters the benefactor from material obsession. Stinginess, a detrimental disorder, suffers defeat as the giver embraces the perception that what is given by God is simply to be spent in the manner, or location, desired by Him. The departure of miserliness from a person results in the arrival of an even greater fondness of God:

So keep your duty to God as best you can, and listen, and obey, and spend: that is better for your souls. And those who are saved from their own greed will surely prosper. (Taghabun 64:16)

Thoughtlessly withholding what is granted by God, then, is virtually treading on dangerous territory, as exhibited via the following Qur’anic admonition:

And let not those who hoard up that which God has bestowed upon them of His bounty think that is better for them. It is worse for them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection. God’s is the inheritance of the heaven and the earth, and God is aware of what you do. (Al Imran 3:180)

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musicafricawake · 1 year

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MUAFA NEWS!!!

COURT JAILS WOMAN IN LAGOS STATE FOR USING BABIES TO BEG FOR ALMS. The Lagos State Magistrate Court 5 sitting in Yaba has convicted and sentenced a female beggar to two months imprisonment for using babies to beg within the state metropolis. Olusegun Dawodu, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, announced this in Lagos while reiterating the ban on street begging and the use of…

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wisdomrays · 2 years

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A COMMON DISEASES AND POSSIBLE CURE: Part 3

Committees of peace

I have told all of these stories for the sake of drawing attention to the significance of reconciling people who have broken off relations. Let me reiterate that as the issue is of great importance, it should not be left in a narrow sphere but it is necessary to form teams for this sake.

Committees must be formed from experienced ones who have sound insight into human psychology to enable them to recognize their addressees’ characters correctly, and who have competent powers of reasoning, judgment, and speech. This way, they can help people seized by bitter feelings and broken off relations.

Considering the people of Anatolia, they have respect for the sacred in spite of their ignorance in religious matters. For this reason, the universal principles and dynamics of Islam, which addresses everyone, can be a means for reconciliation, eliminating bitter feelings between people, and making them embrace one another again.

As this mission of reconciliation can be local, it is possible to implement it on a larger scale. That is, as you can carry out this beautiful act in a certain neighborhood, village, or city, you can practice it throughout a country. It is even possible to take it further and utilize it in terms of international relations. God’s Messenger gave glad tidings for those who contribute to this issue: “Should I tell you about what is more virtuous than fasting, the Prayer, and alms?” They said yes. He said: “Reconciliation between people. Breaking of relations between people is a cut-off (of religion).”

Actually, the dialogues the people of Anatolia are trying to realize worldwide can be considered within this category. Going to the four corners of the world in the name of dialogue, restoring broken relations between countries, constantly generating such plans, and developing effective projects is very important in terms of preventing possible conflicts, wars, and disorders. The most important means of struggling against conflict and discord is education. That is, you will bring up perfect individuals in terms of virtues and universal values, values such as peace, tolerance, and dialogue. Not only will they know a few languages, but they will have expertise in different sciences. At the same time, they will be cultivated with human values and virtues, full of the ideal of making others live. They will pursue PhD and post-doctoral studies everywhere they are for the sake of serving humanity. These exemplary personalities will serve as barriers against discord and transgression, and they will fulfill an important duty in this respect. In a way, it is a matter of reconciliation on global scale. Therefore, this matter, implemented at the micro or local plan, needs to be implemented at the international level as well. Statesmen can come together with the goal of an alliance between civilizations. They can come to agreement on certain issues, and act cooperatively so that differences do not become a means of fighting. Surely, such an act is very important in the name of humanity; it is a laudable activity that deserves to be applauded. However, if such an understanding has not been internalized by the grassroots of the society, this kind of struggle will be doomed to fail. Therefore, it is necessary to seek ways to get people involved in this issue. You can see it as a way of facilitating the process initiated by statesmen through getting ordinary people involved in it; this is the key factor for permanence of the issue. During the cold war period, the communist and capitalist worlds kept fighting for a long time. Some of the smaller countries in between chose to join this or that pact. Each one of those countries experienced different troubles and difficulties as a consequence of such differentiation and polarization. I wonder whether any intellectuals, philosophers or thinkers spoke out loud that it could be handled without a fight as well, whether such an initiative for reconciliation came up or not. I guess not. On the contrary, there were different cases of provocation to make states confront one another. As some provoked their own men, others similarly provoked theirs, and a competition of armament began. Each pact occupied some land, exerted its influence there, and caused people to experience fear and terror that lasted for years. At a time when opportunities of communication and travel have developed and deadly weapons have become more powerful, I think it is an important act of worship to seek ways of reconciliation between nations by taking the issue to an international platform.

Passing to the next world with a pure heart

Restoring relations between people signifies adopting Divine morality as well. Some sayings of the noble Prophet refer to God Almighty’s dealings that can be compared to reconciliation. For example, let us imagine that a certain man passes to the next world after having violated some rights of another, but this man has a certain degree of worth in the sight of God. Let us assume that in the afterlife, God Almighty says to the rightful claimer, “You have lawful claims from this servant of Mine; if You consent to give up your claim, I will give you such and such reward…” So we can apply such an approach to our individual, familial, and social life, and follow this Divine morality. If this is the way God Almighty treats people on the Day of Judgment, it is a very important reference for us at the same time. In my opinion, we need to take this Divine morality as guideline and strive for reconciliation between people who broke off relations. I do not remember having personally broken off relations with anyone by taking offense. There are people who have been writing against me for some forty or fifty years. They write against me alike when I smile and when I cry. Even if I stand somewhere in between, they definitely come up with something to oppose me. I did not, and will not, take offense; on the contrary, I feel pity for their condition. Then I think, they have difficulty in finding some other subject to write about. It goes against my nature to wish them to end up in Hell. At a certain time, when a person who had been in certain proximity to me made vicious statements, the idea of his being punished by God passed my mind; it is worse to see such hostility from a person who once had been near you. But still, I went to my room and said to myself “How dare I…” and God is my witness to how I sobbed. It is not easy to condemn a person to Hell. The evil he did to you does not mean condemning you to Hell. Even if it were, it is not fair to condemn a person to Hell who did the same to you. For this reason, I see no point in taking offense and harboring grudge against some people. We must go to God’s presence with a pure heart and without harboring any resentment toward anyone. According to the relevant Arabic idiom, we must not have ghil—anything negative—toward anyone. As a lover runs to the beloved, we must respond to God’s waiting for us by going to His presence with a pure heart. If we are invited as “You have always led a pure life, come now!” we need to respond by going there in a pure state. May God enable us to have such horizons and understanding while passing to the realms beyond, amin!

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archer3-13 · 3 years

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just a thought experiment for fun, but lets run down the list of how other fe protagonists would likely interact with edelgard:

marth - he'd have sympathy for her personal plight, that is the experiments done on her in her youth, but that wouldn't stop him from fighting her if need be. Probably have a similar reaction to her as he does to michalis, where he would be saddened by her talent and skill as a ruler being used for evil ends instead of positive ones.

alm - likely to be distaste to outright loathing, regarding her as another rudolf or lima iv in terms of her status as an emperor and general attitude. id argue alm is also a character written whos easily blinded by personal connections and fondness, and considering edelgard would likely have people important to him in her crosshairs, theyd likely end up being enemies.

celica - honestly i feel celica would see in edelgard all her own worse impulses, feelings, bad days and the worse aspects of her personal history since they share a degree of overlap in certain key areas [such as being the kids of royal concubines]. as such i actually kinda feel their relation would have a unique interesting tension to it, being mirror images of the other to an extent with celica devoting time to trying to save edelgard before finally grappling and accepting both edelgard being her own person and that celicas own demons have to be conquered in other ways.

sigurd - in the unique position of likely having a good first impression of edelgard, but being especially hurt by her true motives. less because of a shared ideological basis, and more because sigurd is a character thats easily fooled by nature and doesnt take these things kindly.

seliph - considering hes fighting a continent wide war against an invading authoritarian empire as part of a rebel force, seliph probably wouldn't take kindly to edelgard. evne if hed still be kinda sad about it as well.

leif - same as seliph really, only likely even more hostile given his nature as a character, and his own rage towards say travant.

roy - a character that by his nature overworks himself and thinks the best in people. I think hed want to give edelgard the benefit of the doubt, but once that trust was broken hed be willing to do what needed to be done due to a strong moral compass.

lyn - freespirited but decidedly vicious if she feels slighted, considering edelgards ingrained biases snobbery about adrestian culture i woud imagine the two would be easy enemies, even outside of lyn disagreeing with edelgards actual principles.

eliwood - a soft boy guided by a strong sense of morality, hed tried to talk it out to the end but ultimately would probably end up against her because he deemed it the right thing to do.

hector - hectors tendencies towards brash and abrasive behavior would probably turn edelgard against him honestly, which would lead hector to be against her. either way, like eliwood hed likely side against her on principle but unlike eliwood would be less hesitant about the ordeal. though perhaps questioning of his own qualities as a leader through the shadow of her own principles.

eirika - honestly its a little tedious to reiterate similar points at this point, so well eirika is a character with her own distinctions shed probably fall in a similar camp as eliwood

ephraim - unlike his sister ephraim would probably fall more on the hector side of the equation. though i'd imagine hed be even more competitive about it.

ike - ike has historically not gotten along well with nobles, the only ones he generally seems to like being the select few hes helped out in the past. point being, hed probably dislike edelgard and regard her as something of a sterotypical noble on first impression, and a ashnard 2.0 once her intents were revealed.

elincia - if celica is the mirror verse edelgard, then i would posist elincia as the anti edelgard from the reverse dimension. they're opposed on pretty much every point, and considering elincias own experiences with ashnard and ludveck she'd be wary to say the least.

micaiah - another case of 'from personal experience, reservations would be had to say the least'. ontop of that edelgards biases and prejudice to non human/non pure human forms of life would probably extend to micaiahs branded nature and direct phone line to an actual god, which would grate on micaiah especially considering her protectiveness of those aspects of herself.

chrom - chroms got that hothead and impulsive streak of sigurd in him, but with a degree more scrutiny attached albeit not by much. considering his own opposition to walhart though, its likely even when he did get the jist of edelgards whishes he wouldn't be impressed.

corrin - well their are differences between the three routes corrins, theyd all likely fall into the same pattern of distrust and opposition. ranked in terms of whod fall out with her quicker, i'd say it would go birthright -> conquest -> revelations corrins in terms of level of trust given in the initial impression.

#fire emblem #not particularly serious #just for fun

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rexcaliburechoes · 4 years

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Berkut Is A Reflection Of Rigel’s Ideals (Or, What’s Wrong With It) // Literally, No One Asked

Rinea honestly deserved better than being a morality measuring stick to Berkut (I’ll probably cover how she could have been used better in a different post). Like, I absolutely love Rinea. Her and Berkut’s recollection/memory prism is the sweetest thing, if tinged with sadness because we all know how well everything went for those two. Also, I absolutely live In A Silver Garden With You and Berkut’s death/final redemption moment made me ugly cry because GUESS WHAT THE MUSIC WAS. I really would have liked to simply see more of her, in general. I would have loved to see more of her dynamic with Berkut. I am of the opinion that Berkut really did love her, even if he sacrificed her out of desperation (which I’ll cover later).

What was I saying? Oh yeah, Berkut and Rigelian ideals. Thoughts under the cut for length and me uncontrollably sobbing because it get me EVERY DAMN TIME.

Berkut was groomed by Rudolf to become the next Rigelian Emperor, and then was shot down every time he tried to make his wrong right. That broke him. And honestly, I can’t blame him for that. I don’t remember his exact words, but he really wanted to redeem himself in Rudolf’s eyes, not just to redeem his personal honor (hm, where have I heard that before) but to also prove himself in the eyes of the Emperor. Rigel is a country that believes strength above all else. If he couldn’t beat Alm in a fight, he was no longer strong, no longer worthy for the throne.

He’s very prideful and arrogant and aggressive. He lashes out at others when frustrated. He’s not a good person. However, I think this was also in part with how he was raised and the culture of Rigel. It was mentioned somewhere that he was a meek child, but his parents forced him into that mold of strength above all. Rigel is a country where physical strength rules above all (or, more accurately, "Men are weak. Our duty as gods is to make them strong. Our hands must be firm”, as Duma says in his and Mila’s Memory Prism). So he ends up desperate to prove himself to his uncle so that he can take the throne in his stead.

It doesn’t quite work out that way, because Alm is Rudolf’s son, therefore, he has higher priority in ascending the throne.

And because he wasn’t in on this knowledge loop (I think he wouldn’t have as a severe reaction as he did in game if he knew, but Rudolf had his reasons, which I’ll probably cover in a different post), he completely shattered. Everything was for naught, he was useless to the crown, he failed.

So, he goes to the logical extreme and sacrifices Rinea for more power to kill Alm.

And I think this is a reflection of what is wrong with the Rigelian ideal, or what little we see of it, anyways. In the opening cutscene, the narrator explicitly says “but in their quest for power, the Rigelians had let their hearts grow cold and numb to all kindness”. And we really get to see this with Berkut’s actions towards Alm, his lines (calling Alm “farm boy”, though that might be his arrogance leaking through) and how he was desperate enough for power, that he called on Nuibaba’s power (only to be disgusted with it later).

His logical extreme of sacrificing Rinea to Duma is much like the enemy witches we see in game. to paraphrase Lukas, “Witches are women whose souls have been offered to Duma, either willingly or by force. While the Witch gains unrivaled magical prowess, their souls are ripped from their bodies, becoming nothing more than hollow husks with the sole purpose of serving Duma” (thanks, FE Wiki). It’s not exact, but he’s willingly (unwillingly, in Rinea’s case) sacrificing a soul to Duma for more power. He sought more and more power, primarily out of desperation because of the ideals and need to prove himself to Rudolf from his parents. He says, in his final battle, “Power won’t betray me. Power won’t deceive me... the only thing in the world a man can rely on is his own strength”. Strength is comforting to him because it is his “truth”, despite Rinea being the only person he trusts. He let his heart grew cold and callous to the kindness and warmth Rinea brought him.

Again, to reiterate, he’s not the greatest human specimen on the planet. He is an antagonist.

To argue for Berkut’s love for Rinea, a) listen to their goddamn dialogue and the inflection in Berkut’s voice (Ian Sinclair fuckin SELLS Berkut. He was an excellent casting choice) and b) he says “the moment I turned to a power beyond myself, the man you loved was dead”. This implies that despite his growing desperation, he was more than that. Also, despite his flaws, despite his great downfall, despite losing everything- his pride, his strength, his honor, his life, he never lost Rinea, and he finally realizes this just as he was dying.

No, strength wasn’t everything in the end. He lost sight of what truly mattered to him. Rinea mattered to him.

And in his Memory Prism:

He comes and finds her and tells her “those people in there are bastards have have no right to talk down to you, regardless of your house status”

And he even teases her a little and asks her to a dance. There’s a missing tone in Berkut’s voice that’s sweet and kind and not UNCLEEEEEEEEEE and LIES LIES LIES LIES because he fins himself charmed by her.

We don’t see much of their relationship outside of this, but I believe that he truly loves her.

Unfortunately, Berkut is a product of his environment. We don’t see much of him before shit hits the fan, and I would love to see more interactions between the two because there’s so much more to explore. I just really love Berkut as a character. And Rinea’s a sweetie. Both of them need to be included in a happy AU where no one dies and everything is okay.

#fire emblem #fire emblem echoes #berkut fire emblem #berkut #rinea #rinea fire emblem #rex rambles #literally no one asked #oh look here i go sobbing over these two again

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pamphletstoinspire · 4 years

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Five Ways to Seek Grace in Your Life

On one occasion the great mystic, Saint Catherine of Siena, was granted a vision into the state of one soul imbued with sanctifying grace. Upon contemplating the beauty of this one soul in God’s grace, she fell to her knees. Enthralled and totally captivated by its beauty, she thought it was God Himself!

Of all of the gifts that we can receive on earth, as pilgrims travelling towards our eternal home, the grace of God is by far the greatest treasure. It is the pearl of infinite price!

Whereas the worldly and sensual pursue money, fame, power, and pleasure as their ultimate source of happiness (which really is a lie and illusion), God’s true friends pursue ardently and constantly to grow in grace. Another rather simple way to understand the life of grace is simply this: friendship with God. God desires ardently to be our Friend; however, He respects our freedom to accept Him.

The life of grace all starts in the moment that we receive the Sacrament of Baptism. The graces that flow from Baptism are extraordinary, almost mind-boggling—how good God really is. Once the water is poured on the head and the words: “I baptize you, In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, invisible but real miracles occur: an intimate relationship with the Blessed Trinity, the infusion of the theological virtues, moral virtues, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Still of paramount importance is the reality of Grace that permeates and imbues the soul in the moment of Baptism!

With the waters of Baptism we enter into a deep and intimate friendship with the Triune God and we become partakers of His divine nature—we become sons of God and have as inheritance—if we persevere in grace—heaven forever! For that reason the saints teach us: grace is the seed of eternal life.

Given that grace in our souls is the greatest gift and presence, we should do all in our power to preserve grace, grow in grace, so as to die in the state of grace. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church and author of the classic Glories of Mary, states that the grace of all graces is to die in the state of grace. This should be our prayer every day for our souls, that of our loved one as well as for the whole world. Indeed Jesus came as universal Savior—to save the whole world through His Paschal mystery—His passion, death and Resurrection from the dead!

Then there are the two worse things in the universe are the following: 1) Committing a mortal sin (this indeed is terrible); 2) Worse still is dying in the state of mortal sin; this, of course results in an eternal separation from God for all eternity! May God save us from the reality of mortal sin. Nonetheless, if we do have the misfortune of falling into mortal sin, we should never give into despair. On the contrary, we should have a limitless confidence in God’s infinite mercy and have recourse to the wonderful Sacrament of God’s mercy that we call Confession! The Psalmist reminds us with these encouraging words: “God is slow to anger and rich in kindness.” Saint Paul reiterates the same theme: “Where sin abounds, the grace of God abounds all the more.”

Ways to Grow in the Grace of God

We should do all in our power to preserve God’s grace in our souls, but also to grow daily in God’s grace. God’s grace and His intimate Friendship in our soul are worth more than the whole created universe. The natural realm in which we live can never be compared to the supernatural realm in which we find the concept and reality of grace. As a fish swims in water, as a bird flies in the sky so should we be swimming and flying in the atmosphere of grace! This should be the most ardent desire of our hearts, mind and souls!

1. Prayer.

Every time we pray with humility of heart, purity of intention and a desire to please God we immediately grow in grace. For that reason we should treasure prayer, our prayer life and the prayer life of others as the highest and greatest of all realities. Parents who teach their children to pray are the best of parents; parents who are slothful and negligent in the education of their children in the arena of prayer will have to give an account on the day of their judgment! Because of the numerous distractions of daily life, how easy it is for parents—who must be the first educators of their children—to be negligent and sloppy in teaching their children to pray! May God have mercy on us!

2. Charity.

The Word of God teaches us this consoling truth: “Love covers a multitude of sins.” If we can find ways and opportunities that God offers us on a daily basis to practice charity and service or even alms-giving towards others then we have another means to augment grace in our souls. In the movie Little Boy, the little boy was given what the priest called the “Magic list” to accomplish so that his father would return home safe and sound from the World War. The magic list is nothing more than less than the corporal works of mercy listed in (Mt. 25:31-46) “ I was hungry and you gave me to eat; thirsty and you gave me to drink; a foreigner and you welcomed me; sick and in prison and you came to visit me; dead and you provided burial…” Beg the Holy Spirit in prayer which of these He is calling you to carry out in practice in your life so as to increase grace in your soul!

3. Penance.

Jesus stated that some devils can be cast out only through prayer and fasting. The Lord also reminds us: “Anyone who wants to be my follower must renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Every time we say “no” to our selfish desires and “yes” to a sacrifice that the Holy Spirit has inspired in our hearts then once again the grace of God rises in our hearts! An added blessing from God when we undertake a life of sacrifice is conquering our bad habits and interior peace of mind, heart and soul! Let us be generous with a God who loves us so much!

4. Sacraments: The Eucharist.

Of course the greatest action in the whole universe is that of receiving the greatest of all Sacraments—The Eucharist! The Holy Eucharist, Holy Communion, is truly and substantially the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Receiving Our Lord with the best of dispositions, in grace, with faith, love, humility and desire for a deeper conversion to His love is an infinite source of grace because this Sacrament is God Himself! For this reason there is no greater action we can do as pilgrims and wayfarers on earth than to receive Jesus with lively faith, frequency and burning love! If you like a simple image, upon receiving Jesus with burning love the gas gauge in your spiritual tank (your soul) shoots up way beyond the full. Beg for the grace to have a daily hunger for the Bread of life so as to constantly skyrocket in grace—to penetrate the high heavens even while on earth! In the Our Father we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” Perhaps Jesus is challenging you to aim at daily Mass and daily Holy Communion so as to surmount the highest mountains in the realm of grace.

5. Our Lady: Hail Mary.

On one occasion, the German mystic and saint, Saint Gertrude, saw Jesus in heaven. He was resplendent in glory, but He was doing an intriguing gesture: placing a golden coin on top of a huge mound of other gold coins. The saint was just finishing praying to our Lady the Hail Mary. Jesus responded in this manner. “Gertrude, every time you pray to my mother the Hail Mary with faith and devotion, I am depositing a Golden coin in heaven that will be yours for all eternity.” If we want to be multi-billionaires in heaven let us love Mary and the prayer that Mary loves so much—Hail Mary. In the Hail Mary we greet the Queen of Heaven and earth with these beautiful words: “Hail Mary, Full of Grace.”

Therefore, let us get into the habit of praying the daily Rosary, with the beautiful prayer Hail Mary. If done, Our Lady, through her powerful intercession will be storing up for you infinite treasures and an eternal home in heaven! May we love grace, treasure grace, strive to grow in grace and finally die in grace through the intercession of Mary, the “Full of grace.”

BY: FR. ED BROOM, OMV

#five ways to seek grace in your life

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tawakkull · 3 years

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ISLAM 101: Muslim Culture and Character: Reflections (Tafakkur): Part 7

ISLAM AND TRUE SENSE

Islam and Being Human in the True Sense

Question: You have stated that, “Islam, the All-Mighty Creator’s greatest and universal gift to all, can be actualized through being human in the true sense; the human is the spiritual index of all creation, by that which is made from the intellect, conscience, spirit, body, and the inner subtle faculties.” Could you elucidate this statement, please?

Answer: Each of the points mentioned in the question, which constitute the different depths of the human, is the main strand with respect to understanding and explaining Islam.

Reasoning

We should consider the reason first. Reason serves a function: to separate right from wrong, and beneficial from harmful. It can achieve these tasks if it is used properly under the guidance of the heart and spirit. However, rationalists regard reason as everything—and the neo-rationalists of our time give it a priority even before the Qur’an and Sunnah. Unfortunately, in rejecting their extreme stance, some people denied reason completely. One extremism gave way to the opposite extremism. If we consider the general situation of the Islamic world today, it will be seen how reason is ignored, thus giving way to the extremism of all kinds.

God created a reason for important wisdom. First and foremost, it is the basic condition for the responsibility of worship and servitude to God. Had humanity been deprived of the honor of being the object of Divine address, they would not have been endowed with the blessing of reason. God speaks to humans by virtue of possessing reason. In a way, He makes covenants with humans, because they are beings that possess reason. For example, He states in the Qur’an: “So always remember and make mention of Me (when service to Me is due), that I may remember and make mention of you (when judgment and recompense are due)” (al-Baqarah 2:152). “…Fulfill My covenant (which I made with you through your Prophets), so that I fulfill My covenant…” (al-Baqarah 2:40).

Understanding and practicing these commands depends on the reason. The issue of whether God will take a person without reason to Paradise is not our subject here. However, it is thanks to the reason that humanity is honored with being the object of Divine address and can understand and practice religious commandments; this point is very important in terms of understanding the place and value of reason in religion.

Besides these, the essential component of understanding what we see and hear is the reason, too. Despite its incredible importance, there is a certain limit reason can reach. It is always prone to be mistaken. Therefore, it needs to be valued only as much as it merits. On the other hand, dismissing reason before letting it fulfill all of its functions means paralyzing some part of its mechanism or system. For this reason, it will not be possible for such a system to serve the function it is supposed to. A car that has all the parts but the gas pedal will not move. Similarly, the general system possessed by a human being will be paralyzed without the functioning of reason, which is among the significant components of the system.

Spirit

Spirit is also one of the important pillars of human nature. It is a system beyond the spiritual intellect. While describing the course of spiritual journeying, saintly persons said that one advances from the spiritual intellect to the spirit, which is a Divine emanation. In terms of being a Divine breath, it is a fresh bestowal sent to us from the realm of Divinity. We are sensed, known, seen, and protected by means of it. It is a trust that actually belongs to God. Therefore, leaping up from the Spiritual Intellect to the horizons of the spirit is, first of all, an expression of respect for this Divine breath God entrusted to us. At the same time, this is a matter of a person’s horizons. Only those who ascend to the horizons of the spirit can sense that it is of Divinity. It is an important rank, especially to effectuate the spiritual intellect; however, those who keep toddling in this level and fail to ascend to the horizon of the spirit will not be able to sense much about such a Divine quality.

Body

Here we also add these the body, the material aspect of humanity. As the systems like reason, conscience, heart, and spirit, which constitute the spiritual side of the human are very important, the body, which constitutes the material side, also has separate importance of its own. Above all, being able to observe worship for God, and observing acts like Prayer, fasting, and Hajj, depend on making these systems work correctly. As we are not really aware of the exact otherworldly returns of observing Prayer, reciting verses from the Qur’an, and other good deeds, we similarly do not know the otherworldly returns of utilizing them for the respective purposes they were created for. As we learn from the noble Prophet’s sayings, the Prayer observed impetuously without giving it its due will be a means of reproach and shame beyond the grave. On the other hand, when the same Prayer is observed in compliance with the proper conditions and requirements, it will be a pleasant companion that will not let the person down during the journey to the next world.

With all acts of worship, you observe besides your Prayer, you will be disciplining your body at the same time. Even though acts of worship have certain physical or anatomical benefits, they were not decreed on account of such wisdom. On the contrary, they were decreed in order to make a person eligible for Paradise so they could gain eternal bliss therein, have the honor of beholding God, and attain a state with which God will be well pleased. Although acts of worship such as Prayer, fasting, and the Zakah alms have certain benefits pertaining to the worldly life and disciplining the self, their true returns will be in the Hereafter.

In terms of being a means for a person’s attaining all of these graces in the Hereafter, the body is one of the most important Divine blessings to human. The emphasis that it is a blessing was first made with Prophet Adam, peace be upon him. God commanded angels to prostrate before Adam, and all of the angels did so, except for Satan, who made a haughty refusal to obey this command by giving in to egotism. Spirit beings and angels saw the immensity in Adam, they acted with insightful obedience to the command and thus prostrated themselves. This evoked respect in their spirits for the body of Adam. To reiterate a fact I expressed in different talks, had prostration been permissible before anybody else other than God, it would have been for humanity, a wonder of creation with respect to our bodily and spiritual structure.

In terms of their nature, angels have insightful obedience to commands. They also have knowledge of Divine mysteries, have access to the realm of Malakut and can be present in some thousand different places simultaneously. Still, they cannot properly sense the properties of the material world. It is for this reason that they were surprised at a strange creature like the human and they said, “Will you set therein one who will cause disorder and corruption on it and shed blood?” (al-Baqarah 2:30). The human is a being teeming with feelings such as lust, selfishness, boasting, and rage, and thus is prone to committing evil acts. However, by being able to subordinate all of these to Divine commands, he or she can ascend to the level of being a favorable, beloved, and laudable servant of God. God creates goodness via these relevant evils. The angels could not know this side of humanity. In terms of both his spiritual and bodily structure and together with the interaction between these two, the human gains meanings that cannot be expressed by books.

In sum, understanding Islam with its true identity, depth, and immensity, as well as practicing it and telling about it, can only be possible by using the human nature properly without neglecting any aspect of it. As humanity’s reason, spirit, and body were created for particular wisdom, each must be used in accordance with the purpose they were created for; because if a person neglects even one of these, it will not be possible for them to thoroughly fulfill the responsibility he has undertaken.

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troger · 4 years

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der Otter = vidra

die Kreuzotter = keresztes vipera

#deutsch lernen #otter

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drmaqazi · 2 months

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WHAT IS ISLAM?

THE RELIGION OF PEACE

Monotheistic religion

TypeUniversal religion

ClassificationAbrahamic

Scripture: Quran

Theology: Monotheistic

Language: Classical Arabic

Territory: Muslim world

Founder: Muhammad (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam)

Origin: CE 610, Jabal al-Nour, Hejaz, Arabia

Islam means to achieve peace – peace with God, peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of God – through wholly submitting oneself to God and accepting His guidance.

What is the Essence of Islam?

Prophet Muhammad mentioned in a narrative the best summary of the core of Islam as follows:

"Faith means that you have faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you have faith in the measuring out, both its good and its evil."

"Doing what is beautiful means that you should worship God as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you."

WHO IS ALLAH اللّهَ?

Who is God in Islam?

"Say: He is Allah, the One" (Quran 112:1) -

"Allah, the eternally Besought of all" (Quran 112:2)

"He begetteth not nor was begotten" (Quran 112:3)

"And there is none comparable unto Him" (Quran 112:4)

"And Allah brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and gave you hearing and sight and hearts that haply ye might give thanks" (Quran 16:78)

"Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware" (Quran 6:103) \

Are humans an image of God?

"His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and, unto Allah (all) things are brought back" (Quran 57:5) -

WHAT IS THE HOLY QURAN ALL ABOUT?

WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

WHERE DO MUSLIMS LIVE?

Why Don't Muslims Speak Out Against Terrorism?

THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH - MUHAMMAD (SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam)

"And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not" (Quran 34:28) -

"Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is Aware of all things" (Quran 33:40) -

BEGINNING OF ISLAM

THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD (SallAllahu 'alaihi wa Sallam)

The early life of Muhammad including his work as a merchant, his marriage to Khadijah, his early revelations and the persecution of early Muslims by his own Quraysh tribe.

Prophet Muhammad lineage all the way to Adam

whyIslam, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34108290

IS ISLAM COMPATIBLE WITH THE MODERN WORLD?

Do Muslims believe in laws beside the religious law (Shariah)?

What is Islam’s view on human rights and social justice?

WHAT IS JIHAD?

Jihad as a military action is justified in two cases: struggle to defend oneself, or others, from aggression and struggle for freedom of religion and justice. The Holy Qur’an says:

What about all the terrorists?

"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not, aggressors" (Quran 2:190) -

Moreover, the Qur’an and the Prophet prohibited the torturing of prisoners and the senseless destruction of crops, animals and property.

1001 INVENTIONS AND LIBRARY OF SECRETS

ISLAM IN AMERICA

The history of Islam in the U.S.

Islam in United States of America

WHO ARE WE?

REFERENCES:

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