The Torah, Gospel and Qur'an

By far, the greatest phenomena of human existence are books. Books are the mark of civilization and advancement. Books are friends, counsellors and comforters. Books are like human stars, lighthouses, gas stations and service shops - they adorn, instruct, guide, fuel and repair us.  Reading a book is like being intensively alive, it's like wearing a new coat, falling in love and holding a ball of light in your hands. The broadening of minds, the transformation of habits and the beginning of new eras  - all start with great books. Books are the magic carpet ride into distant lands, a time machine to the the past and future fanned.
I wish I could say everyone loves books, that this passion for books is shared amongst all human beings but very few North Americans read or give their children the gift of books. Progressive metropolitan cities are increasingly absent of libraries and reading thus causing a decline in a wise and thinking population. Ignorance has reached its peak with some shriveled minds burning books and destroying the fountain of knowledge that empowers humanity.

Of the most beautiful books subject to controversy and burning are the Torah, Bible and Qur'an. Interestingly enough, Muslims (who believe in and occasionally read the Qur'an), respect the Torah and the Bible. We maintain that all three Books, the Torah, Bible and Qur'an are divine and revealed by Allah.

About the Torah Allah, says,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ  يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِن كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ

"Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted to Allah judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of  Allah, and a they were witnesses thereto." [Qur'an, 5:44]

With respect to the Bible, Allah says,

  وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

"And We gave him [Jesus son of Mary] the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous." [Qur'an, 5:46]

Finally in regards to the Qur'an, Allah says,

وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ  وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ

"And We have revealed to you the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scriptures and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow  their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth." [Qur'an, 5:48]

The Torah was sent down to Musa (a.s) or Moses (peace be upon him) as a blueprint for a righteous life and an illumination for the Jews. The word used in Arabic for the Jews is هَادُوآ which contains two meanings:
 (1) هَادُوآ is from تَابُوآ which means "Those who repent". These people are called هَادُوآ because they repented to Allah after worshiping the calf. Since Allah created them, guided them spiritually and liberated them from slavery, it was most deserving that they worship Allah but they betrayed Him and worshiped the calf. Once Musa (a.s) reminded them of their wrongdoing and injustice, they repented and became هَادُوآ or "Those who repent."
(2) هَادُوآ is from يَهُودَآ which was Yaqub's (a.s) or Jacob's (peace be upon him) oldest son. This particular group that followed Musa (a.s) were (or claimed to be) the direct descendants of يهودا and called themselves after him and so they were known as هَادُوآ
Later the word هَادُوآ was translated (and widely accepted) as Jews. But historically the Jews are not different than Muslims. The (Hebrew) Torah today still recognizes Eloh as one True God of Israel. 

"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one" - [Deuteronomy 6:4]
Hebrew: שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד
Romanization: Shema Yisra'el Eloheinu Eloh Eḥad.

The word אֱלֹהֵינ or Elohein is plural for Eloh, which means "God" in the Torah.
God of Israel or el Elohe Yisrael [Gen. 33:20] and God the Most High or el Elyon [Gen. 14:18] Se also the Book of Psalms 8:31, 33, 48; 68:21; Job 8:3, Exodus. 34:14; Isiah. 44:10,Habakkuk 3:3, 2 Chronicles 32:15; Daniel 11:37-83,  Eloh is the oft-repeating and reoccurring Name of God in the Torah. See Milon Ben y'hudaah, Ivri-Angli (Ben Yehuda's Hebrew-English Dictionary), Eloh is the same as Allah.
Although the Jews claim YHWH to be their God but this name is a conjectural. There is no proof of it's existence in the Torah; some Hebrew alphabets are misconstrued deliberately to read YHWH but it does not appear in the Hebrew text on it's own in this exact shape and form.  Similarly, the Jews allege, Adonai as another name of God but this name is derived from Adonis, who was a mythical Greek god killed by a boar. Other names of gods which appear in the Torah are specific to Levantine, Mespotamian and Egyptian pagan deities like Ba'al, Adad and Amun and these names should not be confused with the One True, Eternal Creator and Sustainer of this Universe, Eloh.
Eloh, in it's singular form, appears over 70 times in the Torah.  So this makes Allah, the God of هَادُوآ or Jews and مسلمون  or Muslims (ones who submit to Allah with love and respect to obey and follow all His commands). 

The Gospel was sent to Esa (a.s) or Jesus (peace be upon him) in Aramaic, the language which he spoke during his ministry. Even in Aramaic, the Name of God is Alah. And Allah says in the Qur'an that He sent down the Gospel to Esa (a.s) as a guidance, light, admonition and confirmation of the Torah.
Finally Allah revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad (s.a.w) in Arabic. The Name of God in Arabic is Allah. Therefore, intrinsically the God of Jews, Christians and Muslims is Allah. Allah says, the Holy Qur'an is the Truth and a Criterion over the Torah and the Gospel.

According to the Torah itself, Musa (a.s) bore witness that the Jews are a corrupt people and they will turn against Allah and change the commands of Allah after his death. "Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death! Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands" [Deuteronomy 31:25-29]

Almost a century after the death of Musa (a.s), the Book of Jeremiah confirmed the alterations the Jews made in the Torah. They entirely changed and misinterpreted the commands of Allah sent to them through Musa (a.s) in the Torah. 

The Jews Changed   the Torah  (Jeremiah 8:8)	The Attributes of Jews   in the Torah	The Actions of Jews  against the Prophets of Allah
"How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?"  (The New International Version, 1984)	Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools  (Romans, 1:22)	They said, "Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets. So come, let's attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says."  (Jeremiah, 18:18)
"How can you say, "We are wise because we have the word of the LORD," when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?"  (New Living Translation, 2007)	He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.   (Job, 5:12)	"'In this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, at the hands of those who seek their lives, and I will give their carcasses as food to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.   (Jeremiah, 19:7)
“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie."  (English Standard Version, 2001)	He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away.  (Job, 5:13)

After the Torah was distorted, Allah sent Esa (a.s) with the Gospel to correct the fallacies. Following ascension of Esa (a.s) the Gospel was also tampered. Conclusively, the Qur'an was revealed by Allah through the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) as the final Truth and criterion over the Torah and the Gospel.

This has nothing to do with God changing His mind as many Jews and Christians aruge. Allah is not to blame for the changes that were made in the Torah and the Gospel. Human hands destroyed the original message of Allah, hence out of of His eternal mercy, Allah sent another revelation to guide the people away from unsound and mistaken religious beliefs and practices. Allah says,  "So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them... And from those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded.... O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger [Muhammad s.a.w] making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allāh a light and a clear Book [Qur'an]." [Qur'an, 5:13-15]

Throughout history, every nation received a Prophet from Allah and a Scripture or Book to guide them to the straight path. However, some people always rebelled against the Prophets and frequently distorted the Holy Texts to promote their selfish desires and justify sin. Whenever a nation transgressed against Allah and became sinful, out of His love and compassion, Allah sent them another Prophet and Scripture to re-invite them to the straight path until finally after the succession of a hundreds and thousands of Prophets, Muhammad (s.a.w) was sent as the ultimate Messenger and the Qur'an as the Last Divine Testament. The Qur'an is irrevocable, unalterable, incontrovertible, unchallengeable, binding and absolute. The Qur'an is the criteria of the Truth. The Torah and the Gospel should be screened to see if they correlate the Qur'an, the passages which are agree with the Qur'an are authentic and the passages which do not, are false and must be discarded.

Allah says,

لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ  إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

"To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allāh willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allāh is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." [Qur'an, 5:48]

The Torah, Gospel and Qur'an are from Allah. Each was revealed as a test to see who follows it. After the Torah when the Gospel was revealed, it became obligatory upon the people to leave the Torah and follow the Gospel. Subsequent to the Gospel when the Qur'an was revealed, it is mandatory to follow the Qur'an and leave adherence to other Books. It's like when a piece of technology goes obsolete, one must buy the latest version because it has improved applications more compatible to our needs. It doesn't mean that the older technology is no value, it still is technology but it is inadequate for use so it is replaced by a superior system that is first-class and perfect for our needs. Comparably, Muslims still revere Torah and the Gospel for their former divine source but we follow the Qur'an because it is Allah's latest, complete and unadulterated message. All followers of Musa and Esa (a.s) are called in the Qur'an to receive the Qur'an as their new guide, light and instructions from Allah. New guide does not mean that the message is new, the message is the same as it was originally given to Musa and Esa (a.s), the only difference is that when the true message of Allah became obscure in Torah and Gospel Allah revealed the Qur'an to clarify the truth from fiction.

The Qur'an is sufficient, after it's revelation, there is no need for seeking guidance, answers and law from the Books sent before it. Jabir bin Abdullah and Umar bin al Khattab (r.a) came to the Prophet (s.a.w) with a book that he took from the followers of Musa and Esa (a.s). Umar (r.a) began to read the book to the Prophet (s.a.w) and he became very upset. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, "Are you uncertain about it ibn al Khattab? By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I have come to you with it white and pure. Do not ask them about anything, for they might tell you something true and you rject it, or they might tell you something false and you believe it. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If Musa were living, he would have no choice but follow me." - [Ahmed]
Abdullah bin Thabit narrated that Umar (r.a) came to the Prophet (s.a.w) and said, "O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)! I passed by a brohter of mine from the tribe of Qurayzah, so he wrote some comprehensive statements from the Tawrah for me, should I read them to you?" The face of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w) changed with anger. Umar (r.a) said, "We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad (s.a.w) as our Messenger." So the anger subsided and he (s.a.w) said, "By the One in Whose Hand is Muhammad's soul, if Musa appeared among you and you were to follow him, abandoning me, then you would have astrayed. Indeed you are my share of the nations, and i am your share of the Prophets." - [Ahmed]
These ahadith are very clear in conveying that it is incumbent upon every person after the Prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w) to follow him and the Qur'an. Even if they were followers of Musa and/or Esa (a.s) in the past, they must now profess faith in Muhammad (s.a.w) and follow the Qur'an because Qur'an is Allah's ultimate and concluding revelation, correcting, enhancing and completing the Torah and the Bible. When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) passed away, Umm Aiman (r.a), one of the foster mothers of Prophet (s.a.w) cried painfully upon the realization that after this day Allah will never send any of His revelation and messages to humankind again. Allah's Speech with people end with the Qur'an.

Islam is NOT a terrorist religion

I am sure everyone has heard this rant several times on the Television. I am not fond of fulminating this debate too often myself because sometimes the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people want their suspicions rewarded (hahaha little Batman line there ..... nvm). The people prefer to fear a Muslim Bogeyman than live a conscious and educated life free from propaganda. This is how United States has always done politics.
The US demonized the Russians, Germans and the Japanese in the past to achieve their political ambitions. Arthur Miller wrote a play in the 1950s, "Crucible" in which he despised Russia as the devil because of their communist ways. What is communism? A hypothetical economic and political system in which all members of society are socially equal. An ideal communist society would abolish all class divisions and wither away political elite power privileges. What is wrong with that? Sure, there is no private property so you can't own a house but the government gives you a really nice, furnished residence with appliances. The government pays for your children's education and your medical expenses. The state controls the bank and the economy so the markets never crash and prices never inflate. Tell me you you have the same in capitalism?  David Icke calls capitalists, reptiles because their greed and exploitation. Capitalism is like stealing candy from a child. It is cold and brutal. It advocates making profit, at all costs, especially at the misery and desperation of others. See my post on Interest based economy.
As for the crazy German Nazis, Bush's grandfather helped Hitler rise to power. So who is worse,  the Germans or the United States who funded the Germans? The US staged attacks on Pearl Harbour and later blamed the Japanese to justify its entry into World War II and testing its nuclear heads. After much pillage, murder, cannibalism and slavery, when the aforementioned threats went to their graves, the US manufactured Muslim terrorism to continue to police and bomb the world.

You don't have to believe in conspiracy theories but needless to say there is enough counter information to the contemporary media broadcasts that I think, deserve thought-and- a half, if not more. What is not a conspiracy and not political is the Qur'an itself. Read the Qur'an first before making and passing sweeping generalizations judgments on Islam.
From the Qur'an, it is clear that Islam is a humanitarian religion. The Qur'an speaks of maintaining human dignity and alleviating suffering.  

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ

"Because of that, We decreed...that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption done in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And wheover saves one - it is as if he ahd saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors."
[Qur'an, 5:32].

Only retribution in cases for murder is permissible otherwise all human life, regardless to race and religion, is sacred in Islam. All Prophets of Allah (God) peace be upon them, including Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) advocated kindness, benevolence and sympathy for all people, animals and the environment. Violence and aggression has no root in Islam. Islam encourages reformation, reconciliation and peace. Allah says,

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

"Except for those who return [repenting] before you over them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful," [5:34]

فَمَن تَابَ مِن بَعْدِ ظُلْمِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

"But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allah will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is forgiving and Merciful." [5:39]

Allah loves to forgive and He embodies mercy and compassion. Muslims are also called to pardon, make peace and live with harmony with everyone. So why is Islam getting a bad name?

وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ  يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا

And from among the Jews [They are] avid listeners to falsehood, listening to another people who have not come to you. They distort words beyond their [proper] usages, saying "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." [5:41]

Propaganda and hate mongering is nothing new. Even at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), false information was advertised about Islam to manipulate and control the masses. The bias and the slurs are age-old. Not that we should take this lightly but just that misleading news on Islam has always existed.

Dear Muslims, Don't Be Afraid ...

 

Finding Balance in a Messy World

There are three things in life, indifference, love and obsession. Indifference is when you don't care either way, it is all the same to you - "whatever". Love is that you strongly prefer and desire one thing over the another, it is your priority and immediate concern. But obsession is the total domination and control of something over your life. It holds you captive. You do not do anything except fixate over your obsession. You loose your sleep, work and family to obsession. It commands you senselessly. Sometimes we obsess over genuine things like wanting to understand the Qur'an, spending time with scholars or going for Hajj. And in our naivety we think that because our obsessions are religious, we are right to spend all our time, energy and money over them. We are right to disdain our duty to our family and our body in our pursuit of our obsession. But the truth is, obsession of any kind is not a sign of success but failure. It is an imbalance and a disorder which is not the goal of Islam.

Abu Hurirah (r.a) reported, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, 'The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigour, it will overpower him. So follow a middle course (in worship); if you can't do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of the night." [Bukhari]
Life is balanced and moderate. Allah did not create anything on extremes, in fact everything that becomes too drastic, self-destructs because it doesn't coincide with the nature on which Allah has originated things. This hadith teaches us time management. Reserves the hours of early morning and some segments of night for worship. Work and look after your family during the day.
Yes, we would rather recite the Qur'an, study Hadith and give Da'wah all day and night. Fast and spend time in the Masjid always because this is where we find our heart. But how long do you think this will last? The anger and sadness of our parents, spouses and children will deprive us of the blessings of our worship and knowledge. We will be miserable because we have made the people who have the most right over us, miserable. Our conscious will not let us live the guilt down and soon we will find ourselves unbalanced and out of order.

Anas (r.a) reported, three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.w) to inquire about the worship of the Prophet (s.a.w). When they were informed, they considered their worship insignificant and said, 'Where are we in comparison with the Prophet (s.a.w) while Allah has forgiven his past sins and future sins." One of them said as for me, I shall offer Salah all night long. Another said, I shall observe fasting continuously and shall not break. Another said I shall abstain from women and shall never marry. The Prophet (s.a.w) came to them asnd ask, "Are you the people who said such and such things? By Allah, I fear Allah more than you do, and I am most obedient and dutiful among you to Him, but still I observe fast and break it; perform Salah and sleep at night and take wives. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me." [Bukhari and Muslim]
Islam encourages the unification of the pursuit of spiritual progress with physical well-being and social enjoyment. In Islam, if the intention is to please Allah and the action complies with the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), then even eating, sleeping and getting married are virtuous and rewarded. Just as Allah has commanded us to enhance ourselves spiritually, He has also enjoined upon us to maintain a good physique, to feed and rest the body - give it, it's rights and socialize in the community. This is the nature on which Allah has created us and so long as we follow this program, our worship and study will thrive. So balance your time in such a way that your obligations to your family and your interests to learn and teach are in order. Fear Allah regarding this. Just as Allah will ask you about your Salah, He will also question you in regards to the rights of your family and your community upon you.

A common justification from the isolationists is that people do not understand us. They cannot relate to our love for the Deen and it's knowledge so how can we share a common grounds with them? True, Islam has returned to it original state of being "stranger" in society. Even our own families think we are aliens. If we isolate ourselves from them, they will solidify in their misconceptions about Islam. The more we socialize with them the more they will realize, Islam is the natural and more enlightened way to life.
The isolationists also say that people are moody, every day we find our own family members in a different state of mind.  One day they are happy and the very next day - they are so upset they won't talk to anyone without explaining why. How do we put up with that? True, in almost every household toady, mothers will rebuke their children no reason other than that it is their habit.  Husbands will be aggressive with their wives because it is the only way they know how to behave. Siblings argue and cut off ties over the smallest arguments. In this situation, people tend to isolate themselves. It is easier to live alone than to suffer the pain of obnoxious put downs.
Just forgive and forget for now. Allah did not give us the power to change people but He can give us the patience to bear with them. No matter how you are treated, hold yourself to good moral values. Adi ibn Hatim (r.a) reported, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "Allah will surely speak with everyone of you without an interpreter. He (the man) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hellfire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not find it, then wit a kind word." [Riyadh al Saliheen]
Be courageous and daily spend at least an hour with the family. Speak kind words to them. Help your siblings with their homework, ask them what happened in school. Make tea for your dad and massage your mom's feet. Ask her about your grandmother and aunts. You will see this exercise of meeting with your family will give you the break that you needed and the motivation to study and teach with a renewed passion.

Hear Brother Nouman's beautiful and well balanced discourse on interacting with the non-religious family members in such a manner that they cannot resist the Islam and the knowledge which you love.

Yes, sometimes I absolutely wish that I was alone with my books and with not a thing to do in the world. Just unlimited access to scholars but life isn't like that - only Paradise is. So hold yourself moderately between your duties (to your family) and your heart (to Allah and to knowledge) with patience. Indeed Allah loves those who are patient and Paradise is for the patient - inshaAllah.

BookReview: Aquitaine Progression

I read the Aquitaine Progression (novel) over the summer of last year.  Robert Ludlum originally wrote it in 1984, explaining how a ring of ex-military personnel, with the strategic assistance of World Intelligence Agencies (namely the CIA and Mossad), and funds from the World Banks and Big Business corporations tried to take over the world. They called themselves the Aquitaine, and their ideas was to take over the world by simultaneously killing all political leaders and ushering absolute villainy and tyranny everywhere. Panicked and frightened by the sheer lawlessness, they thought the people would vote the military into power. Since they were the ex-military commanders, they would ascend to the rank of total global domination. The result is something like Equilibrium (Christian Bale's 2009 movie about the a single military regime, the Grammaton Cleric that dictates the world).

Why the Aquitaine?
Aquitania (as Julius Caesar called it) was a name given to a place in southwestern France. It extended from the Atlantic, across the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, to the north of the mouth of the Lorire west of Paris on the coast. Aquitaine came into to being suddenly, through massive expansions and abrupt contractions. Had there not been political, marital and military miscalculation on the part of Charlemagne and his sons, the two Pepins, and later Louis the Seventh of France and Henry the Second of England, Aquitaine might have encompassed most if not all of Europe. Since Aquitaine was once considered a legitimate possession of England, it might in time have enveloped all her foreign colonies, including the original 13 of present day US, Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent,

Throughout history, European leaders and movements, such as Horthy in Hungary, Metaxas in Greece, Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany, the Lapua Movement in Finland, the National Socialist Workers Party in Sweden, the British Union of Fascists the UK and the parafascist Blueshirts Ireland, the Croix de Feu in France and the Rexists in Belgium, have attempted to pursue the Aquitaine agenda.


What Now? 
Europe is striving again to revive the Aquitaine. They want to crush all governments in the Middle East and South East Asia and then rule them with a military fist. Europe is already one big union, so are US/Canada and Mexio. Together, these two great powers are dismantling the Middle East and will eventually control it directly with their armies. Don't think that the locals of Libya are protesting against the government like the locals were in Egypt and Tunisia. I am reading a book on "Military Intelligence and the Arab Revolt" by Polly A. Mohs. He writes that all Arab revolutions from the time of the Ottoman Empire till now, erupted because of Western coercion. In other words, the Western powers institute and administer all border and government changes in the Middle East; the media just makes it seem like it's democracy or the revolution but it is really a Western coup. 

Listen to Ghaddafi's speech in 2008. He clearly warned all Arab political leaders that after the murder of Saddam by the West, none of their governments are safe and sovereign.

The similitude of the Middle East is like the story of the 3 bulls. They were safe for as long as they were united and promised to protect each other. When 2 of them disjointed for the third and for selfish reasons allowed the wolf to kill the 3rd bull, the two eventually died as well. If Muslims do not collaborate now, soon the entire Middle East will be engulfed to the Aquitaine Progression.

There is something called, "the Heartland Theory" by John Mackinder . He said during the Cold War that the Middle East was the world's pivot area and of the greatest strategic importance to Europe. According to him, anyone who controlled the Middle East (the center of the earth), controlled the world (recently Ahmadinejad said the same thing).

What is the Future?
Allah Knows Best and inshaAllah I pray for peace and prosperity for everyone. But the way things are unfolding, if in a few months or year's time, the Middle East is purged of all Muslim governments, do you think Islam will be tolerated in the West? Prophet (s.a.w) is already ridiculed. The Qur'an was burned just weeks ago burned. Niqabis arrested, Scholars banned and now the Shari'a (Islamic way of life) is under attack! Don't think of these to be isolated incidents and a coincidence. Don't be fooled by the lies about democracy and freedom, this system of government is nothing short of corruption and delusion which ultimately serves the Aquitaine agenda.

Read the REAL NEWS on Libya:

• Stephen Lendman (a Chicago based journalist) says US attack on Libya was preplanned and part of a greater political purpose. There is no humanitarian intervention only naked aggression. He says Ghaddafi is only defending himself against the US bombing and invasion.
• Diana Johnston (author from Brussels) says US and NATO are bombing the Libyan civilians not Ghaddafi.
• Putin (Russia) says Libya does not need democracy. He says the US invasion of Libya is like the medieval call for crusades. 
• Alex Jones says US wants to install another dictator in Libya in place of Ghaddafi so the civilians can be drugged by lithium, Prozac and Floride water and bring them Rock 'n' Roll, abortions and vaccines so they can learn to die like the modern world.

Don't waste your breath on protests and demonstrations, it is much to late for that. Shouting slogans and rallying is not an Islamic way to bring change anyway. MashaAllah brother Abu Mussab explains it well. We need an entirely different and purely Islamic course of action to save our ship for sinking. 

وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

aameen. 

Islam's cleansing program - every Friday

No, it's not house cleaning or skin cleansing. It's rinsing the soul and disinfecting it of all sins.
I know every time I do my bed, organize my room, vacuum the house or scrub the kitchen - I feel a sense of accomplishment. It's like, I feel happy that I have done something good. Cleaning anything just gives me a fresh feeling, its like my brain finds peace when finally things are in order and where they belong.
People detox their bodies and exfoliate their skin, laundry their clothes, spray their homes, perfume their cars - all in all, cleaning is part and parcel of our culture. It is something we teach our children from a young age - to brush their teeth and wash their hands. In fact, doctors and physical trainers earn the highest salaries in our country because health, hygiene, and fitness is important to us. But in our daily enthusiasm to wash and tidy up - we forget to sanitize our souls.

Like disease infects and incapacitates the body, sins contaminate and kill the soul. If unabated, sins engulf our consciousness of and motivation to worship Allah. Check yourself, every time you do something wrong, it will become easier for you to do more wrong and you will feel lethargic in your Salah. Just as a disease becomes chronic illness in the body if it goes untreated, sins tarnish and trash the soul. Notice, many people do not find motivation to even recite the Qur'an. They find it such a hassle to make wudu' and wake up in time for Salah. But the same people will read 10 novels every week, spend hours putting making up and straightening their hair and stay awake all night talking to friends. Why? Because their soul is not into Allah any more. Their souls are addicted to sin so they find pleasure in sinning, but boredom and fatigue in piety. How scary is that? It is like drinking too much salty water and still dying out of thirst.

People are generally good but by not curbing our sins, we allow our souls to corrupt and decay. Purge out sins from your soul with Islam cleansing program.

Wudu
Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "When a Muslim or a believer washes his face, every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with teh water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all sins." [Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "Should I not direct you to something by which Allah obliterates the sins and elevates (your) ranks....Performing wudu properly , even in difficulty, frequently going to the Mosque, and waiting eagerly for the next Salah after a Salah is over; indeed that is ar Ribaat." [Muslim]

Salah
Abu Musa al Ashari (r.a) narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "He who observes the Fajr and Asr Salah will enter Jannah." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Friday
Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "He who performs his wudu' perfectly and comes to Jumu'ah prayer and listens to the Khutbah silently, the sins which he has committed since the previous Friday plus three more days will be forgiven for him. One who distracts himself  with pebbles during the Khutbah will not get the Jumu'ah reward." [Muslim]

Ramadan
Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrated, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, "The five Salah, and from one Jumu'ah prayer to the next Jumu'ah prayer, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for the sins committed in between their intervals; provided the major sins are avoided." [Muslim]

Make wudu with full consciousness and really imagine cleaning your soul. When offering Salah, think of all your sins and ask Allah for forgiveness. Make Fridays rehabilitation days for your soul. Showering, miswaak-ing, reciting Surah al Kahf, sending a lot of salutations upon the Prophet (s.a.w), going to the Masjid, listening to the Khutbah, praying in congregation, meeting the Muslims in the community and giving in charity, can be really refreshing at the end of a busy week at school or work (on condition that all cell phones and laptops are turned off during this time). Give your soul a breather, clean and re-energize it, at least once every week on Fridays and let it take nourishment in the remembrance of Allah.

Taqwa Today

التقوى - is a deep and penetrating consciousness of Allah that safeguards us from disobeying Allah. It is the love and respect of Allah which a believer feels in his/her heart and this emotion motivates him/her to do good and avoid sin.

Whilst reciting the Qur'an, I came across the verses about Jews and Christians in Surah al Mai'ad (Chapter 5) in which Allah says that they say that they are the children and the beloved of Allah. So Allah asks them, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" [5:18] SubhanAllah, Muslims are also deluded with the idea of being favourite of Allah. In fact every Muslim sect (no matter how polytheist in it's theology and deviant in i'ts actions) claims to be the chosen people of Allah. Even those Muslims in the secularist camp are proud of themselves. The view their beauty pageants and dance competitions with great delight, thinking they have made progress and moved the women forward. If all of this is true, then why does Allah punish us? Why did we lose the World Cup for example? Why every other year there is a major earthquake in Pakistan (2005 - 7.8 m; 2008 - 6.4; 2011 - 7.2 m)? Not to mention the frequent landslides and droughts.
Anyway, this is something to just think about so don't get offended. Allah said to the Jews and Christians, "you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination." [5:18] So we really have no special status with Allah. We are His creation and property. He owns us and everything we have. He brought into existence and He will call us back to Him one day. This is التقوى, to be awake and aware of Allah's greatness in our individual realities. Look around you, this computer screen, your eyes, the table on which you keep your laptop, the light in your room, the carpet in your house, the building in which you live, the road that you take to work or school, the sky, the sun, this complete universe and beyond is Allah's creation and mercy.

What is the benefit of being متقي  (person of Taqwa)?  Well التقوى is proof that we love Allah and that He is our priority in life. التقوى shows that we live our lives with the consciousness, respect, love and fear of Allah. التقوى encourages to perform only those actions which Allah loves and renounce every thought and behaviour which He detests.
Notice how people who have التقوى will always be extraordinarily righteous. Allah gives the example of Yusha bin Nun (Joshua), "Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allāh had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allāh rely, if you should be believers." [5:23] His التقوى led him to trust Allah and face the قوما جبارين  (tyrants) of his time. Because of his التقوى , Allah chose him and gave him courage to lead his people to victory and safety. التقوى is this invisible force that propels you forward. It gives you strength to persevere the hardest challenges. Even when you find yourself alone, التقوى will help you endure.
Between Habeel and Qabeel, the brother with التقوى was beloved to Allah and the brother without it, had no value. Habeel had التقوى so he was able to abstain from sin and encourage his brother to do the samed. But since Qabeel had no consciousness of Allah, he didn't heed the warning and sinned. التقوى gives you a criteria of right and wrong. It drives you to do and sound off an alarm when you are near Allah's disobedience. التقوى is beloved to Allah and this is what He expects from us.

Target of the day: think about Allah and be consciousness of Him. How did the remembrance of Allah change your thoughts, mood or behaviour? Did you do anything differently?? Why or why not? How does it make you feel?

Why is Interest forbidden in Islam?

"If his wealth decreases he doesn't become depressed by that, and if it increases, he doesn't get delighted by that, and he doesn't hate to die because of being separated from his wealth"  

then he is a Zahid - Sufyan b. Uyaynah. 

A Zahid is a pious ascetic who lives a simple life. He abstains from indulging the comforts and luxuries of life for the want of spending most of his time in Allah's worship and doing good to people. Allah says, "So as for he who transgressed and preferred the life of the world, then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge. But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge." [Qur'an, 79:37-41]

Can anyone today say that they can live without wealth? That they wouldn't care if they had a lot of wealth or very little of it, it's all the same to them? Interest based economy breeds reckless and untrammeled greed. In fact, in an interest based economy, human value becomes contingent to his possessions. The more you own (drive, wear, buy and eat) the loftier your status in society. What about people who cannot afford to buy foreign cars, or the latest designer clothes and dine in fancy restaurants? They must take interest of course! An average Canadian family is $96,000 in debt for borrowing money from the government who in turn, charges them with interest on every dollar it lends to them. So people already don't have any money in the first place to pay the original borrowed amount, but because of interest, they are charged with extra money to pay for the money they don't have money for. Make sense? Me neither.

Think of it this way. I don't have any apples so I ask you for 2 of yours. You give me 2 but on each apple you give me, I owe you 3 apples in return, with every day that I don't return the apples back to you. So if I am late in my payment by just 1 day, I owe you 2x3 apples. Now, why did I borrow apples from you in the first place? Because I didn't have any, remember? Now if I don't have any apples to begin with, and it is hard for me to acquire them on my own - how can I realistically pay you back the apples you lent me plus the additional apples you are charging me on interest? The interest based economy system is designed to enslave people into an everlasting cycle of debt. No matter how much the people work, because their debt is perpetual, they can almost never pay it off. Every time they make a payment, their debt increases by a certain percent and they just end up paying more.

Take OSAP loans as another example. If you borrow money from the government to pay for your university tuition - $528 per course. Each year, you take 8 courses and you study for a total of 4 years. By the time you graduate, you owe the government approximately $16,896.  If you do not return the government this amount within 6 months of your graduation, every month you owe the government on additional 5% more on the principal amount. So with each passing month, you owe the government $16,896 (principal amount) + $800 (interest). If you are only earning $500-$1,000 a month, then in how many years would you expect to be pay off your loan and debt? Keep in mind that you must also pay for your rent, food, clothes, gas and if you decide to get married and have children, then you must pay for that too.

Who invented interest and why?  

Ultimately, the banks cash in every time we need to buy something we don't have money to pay for. We loose out because we end up paying interest on every loan for over 10 - 25 years. This phenomena has created two extremes in the West, one of shopaholics and the other of money obsessed people. 

Compulsive spenders pay whatever it takes to get whatever they want. With the easy availability of credit cards, they have no sense of control over money. Just swipe a card and you can get a trolley full of junk you don't need. There is no actual exchange of money so the shoppers do not feel like they are paying for their purchases. It's all magic! Coupled with the bombardment of ads for things on television, the shopping addiction becomes a disorder. Ads preach that things can buy us happiness, love, acceptance and power. All our troubles, doubts and disappointments will be pushed away if we shopped. Result? We shop all the time, every mood swing hauls us to the mall. We feel euphoria when we are buying things and irritable when we are not. We spend hours flipping through store catalogues and shopping channels. We just have to have everything in season, everything on sale, everything our friends have and everything our celeb idols have.

Then there is another extreme, money paranoia or money obsession. Some people just live and work for money so they could reserve it. They are fixated about checking their bank statements daily. They don't spend a dime on their family or relatives, even on special occasions. They don't use heating during winter or shower much during the summer to keep their utility bills to a minimum.  They take receipts of every purchase and recalculate them once they get home. It infuriates them if someone asks to borrow money from them. They hoard all types of things; rarely getting rid of anything, even if they haven't used it in the last twenty years. It's wise to be thrifty but stinginess and greed are mental illnesses.

So what if people shop a little extra and some people not at all? Does it make a difference? It creates a wide disparity between the rich and poor. What do you think happens when people go broke and desperate? What about when people don't want to work but still want to get rich fast anyway? According to crime statistics, United States is the first country in the world for highest crime next to United Kingdom. In America, the crime clock continues to click: one murder every 22 minutes, one rape every 5 minutes, one robbery every 49 seconds, and one burglary every 10 seconds. Approximately one in every 18 men in the United States is behind bars (that's 754 persons in prison per 100,000 U.S. resident).  

How do we get out of this interest based economic and social disaster? Simple - do what the Qur'an says.  Allah revealed 1400 years ago,

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىٰ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

"Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allāh has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allāh. But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] – those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. Allāh destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allāh does not like every sinning disbeliever. Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakāh will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve." - 

[Qur'an, 2:275-277]

الرِّبَا or interest, is every loan that yields a profit. 

Allah says, every person who takes or pays interest will stand on the Day of Judgment as though Shaytan has possessed him and beaten him senseless. Harsh? Not really. How do people with compulsive shopping disorder or money paranoia behave? Have you ever seen a child freaking out to buy a toy? It will throw a fit right in the middle of the shop, curse, wail and kick to get what he/she wants. When the same child grows up, he/she remains equally frenzied over buying a dress, a house or a car. It's like they are demented in their craze for buying. They would lose sleep, food and family to work profuse hours to earn plentiful money to buy more and more. Now there is nothing wrong with buying things you need but buying things you don't have the money to pay for, is wide of the mark. You can blame the TV commercials for pumping people with extravagance and hedonism but that doesn't solve the problem. So long as there is interest, the devil of greed and lust will continue to consume our lives. 


The best solution is to abolish interest all together. Interest is an abomination anyway, prohibited and cursed by Allah. 

Trade based Economy	Interest based Economy
Requires resources, effort, intelligence and time to build a run a business.	Only requires resources. So long as you have money, there is no need for you to work hard for spend any time - just lend you money on high interest to people and sit at home and receive profit.
Is risky, profit is unpredictable and may incur loss.	No risks involved, profit is guaranteed and no chances of loss. The people indebted to you are your slaves and you preside their life.
Transaction is instant.	Transaction may drag for decades because of self generating interest/debt.
Makes people rational and moderate. They are careful with money because they know how hard it is to earn it so they only buy the things that they need and can afford. They are also happy with what they have.	Makes people irrational and unbalanced. They are reckless and don't really care about money when they can buy everything on interest. They are unhappy in life because they have many things that they do not need and too much debt they cannot pay.
Creates compassion, people realize how hard it is to hold a steady job and save enough money to satisfy minimum necessities so they give more in charity.	Creates cruelty, people are too much in debt to care for anyone else. They blame poverty not on society but on the individual for not overworking as they do and obsessing buying things on interest as they are.
Foster asceticism, humility and cooperation.	Fosters voluptuousness, arrogance  and crime.
The benefit is mutual, both the vendor and customer profit, the vendor got the price of his product and the customer receives what he paid for.	Transaction is miserable, only the vendor benefits as he gets the price for his product and more. While the customer incurs tremendous loss because he pays 10-100x more on the product than it is actually worth because of interest.
Encourages creation of jobs, constructive work, productivity, equal distribution of wealth, resources and services in society.	Encourages bureaucracy and thug mentality. People who own a lot of wealth also control the society's resources, services and people who all slave for their self-interest.

Interest based economies collapse every few years (take the 2008 recession) for example. Interest based economies are meant to self-destruct and destroy billions of people's lives in the process. The Islamic society is based on charity, mutual support and well-wishing. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) likened the Muslim community to the human body, which works together as a system. Together, we can get rid of the interest based economy by establishing and promoting charitable organizations and businesses that lend interest-free loans. 
In fact the quality of Muslims is that they establish Salah and they give in charity. Allah says, "The believers are only those who, when Allāh is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely – The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision." [Qur'an 3:2-4] In Islam, a person achieves true piety by giving in charity, "Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allāh] from that which you love. And whatever you spend – indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it." [Qur'an, 3:92] Giving in charity is a means of atonement of sins, purification of the soul and the pleasure and reward of Allah. Allah says, "So fear Allāh as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allāh]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful. If you loan Allāh a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allāh is Most Appreciative and Forbearing." [Qur'an, 64:17]  and "So give the relative his right, as well as the needy and the traveler. That is best for those who desire the countenance of Allāh, and it is they who will be the successful. And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with Allāh. But what you give in zakāh, desiring the countenance of Allāh – those are the multipliers." [Qur'an, 30:38-39] 


The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said,

• Charity cool the anger of Allah and save one from a painful death (Ahmed)
• Charity will shade the Muslims on the Day of Judgment (Ahmad)
• Charity will shield the Muslims from hellfire (Tabrani)
• Whoever clothes a destitute person, Allah will adorn with silk green garments in Paradise. Whoever feeds a hungry person, Allah will lavish him with fruits of Paradise. Whoever gives water to a thirsty person, Allah will entertain him with springs and wines of Paradise (Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi)

It is no surprise then that the companions (r.a) would prefer to give in charity even when they were in dire need. Take fore example, Abu Talha (r.a) who pledged his orchard and his house to the Muslim community. AbdurRahman bin Awf (r.a) donated his business convoy of 700 camels, each laden with profuse amount of wealth. Uthman (r.a) contributed an overpriced well to the Muslim community. Abu Bakr (r.a) chipped in money to help people pay off their debt. Someone visited Abu Dharr al Gaghfari's house (r.a) and found it devoid of furniture. Upon inquiring why his house was so empty, Abu Dharr (r.a) said, "I have sent my things ahead for the house of the Hereafter" meaning, he lived a simple life so he could give more in charity and thereby increase himself in reward.


Can you imagine how many people we can help if we abolish interest? Allah says (see 2:275 above), the people who offer Salah and give in charity will never fear and never be grieved. Can you imagine what life will be like without stress and anxiety? Do whatever you can to come out of debt first and get together with relatives and friends, to give other people interest-free loans. Cut your credit cards and try to buy everything with cash or convenience card (card which only allows you to spend only the money you have in your account, there are no purchases on credit). Focus more on improving your life in the Hereafter; wealth, jewelry, friends and parties are transitory anyway. Build your imaan and increase your good deeds with charity.

Islam, Women and Rock 'n' Roll

Reader advisory: Must be 18 or older to read. Post contains mature subject matter. 

A religion's primary claims to legitimacy stems from its conceptions of God, purpose of life and life after death. When it comes to Islam, most people forget theology, they forget that Islam means submission to the One True Creator of this universe Who assigned everything in the heaves and the earth a place and a function in the grand scale of existence. From the minute whirling electron to the mighty nebulas, animals humans, mountains and meadows are all His Creation, sustained and owned only by Him. People forget that Islam adjudges the worship of this Magnificent, Generous and Benevolent Creator - the purpose of human life. 

Allah (God) says in the Qur'an, "He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him. He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary. And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat. And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture]. And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful. And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know. And upon Allāh is the direction of the [right] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all. It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought. And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember.  And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful. And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided,  And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided. Then is He who creates like one who does not create?   So will you not be reminded? And if you should count the favors of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. And Allāh knows what you conceal and what you declare. And those they invoke other than Allāh create nothing, and they [themselves] are created." - [Quran, 16: 3-20]

For the irrational atheists who think the birth of the universe was an accident and a coincidence, Allah (God) reminds them, "Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created? And at the sky – how it is raised? And at the mountains – how they are erected? And at the earth – how it is spread out?" - [Qur'an, 17-20] Can we human intellect and technology today construct animals or manufacture mountains or assemble the sky? No, these things are beyond us, even if we pool all our energies, resources and wealth - we cannot even create a fly or take from the fly if it steals a crumb (without killing it of course). When it is impossible to tactfully bring another world (like this one) into existence, then it is ridiculous to assume that our world occurred by chance. Nothing in the world materializes on its own then how can the world itself pop out of no where?

Anyway, people forget that Islamic theology is logical and sound. It satisfies all empirical and philosophical questions catapulted against it. See Hamza Tzortzis lecture on Islam and Atheism, and guaranteed, inshaAllah - Islam will make more sense to anyone, even to those with half a brain.

So how do most people assess Islam? They ignore almost every other aspect of Islam and linchpin on the issue of women's rights. They complain that women are enveloped in Islam - from head to toe, forced into marriages and then not allowed to work or even leave the house. They think Islam is unfair because it doesn't allow women any freedom. Despite these accusations, women of North American and European decent make the majority of converts to Islam. They weren't forced, no one elbowed them to cover, to marry or to stay at home but they choose to do this on their own, as independent and free women. Why? I can't speak for all of them but I think the Rock 'n' Roll religion had something to do with it.

Rock 'n' Roll 

Music is a way of life, it teaches its listeners everything from life, love and relationships to death, detest and war. Subconsciously or consciously, music controls our thoughts, feelings and personality. Several studies of Rock 'n' Roll listeners show that more than any other group, they suffer from antisocial attitudes and machismo, they are more involved in sex, drugs and occult practices and are less accepting of authority. 51% of Rock music subscribers committed suicide (Stak, Gundlach & Reeves, 1994) and even more reported to have sexually abused women, at least once in their lifetime (St. Lawrence & Joyner, 1991). So before the canons of hate and rejection are fired at Islam, ask yourself, is the Rock 'n' Roll religion better?

Rock 'n' Roll music is rock music and popular music, it includes hard rock, soft rock, punk rock, heavy metal, rap, grunge, salsa and soul music. In 2000, 6 out of the 20 top albums were rap. The famous rap artist, Eminem is nothing short of controversial. His album, the Marshall Mathers LP sold 7.92 million copies in 2000 and was the number two album in America. And what did he sing in this album? "New kids on the block sucked a lot of d-/boy-girl groups make me sick. And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public/I'ma love it." This song was so popular that the editors of Entertainment Weekly ran a cover story on him titled "Lewd Awakening" (Schwarzbaum, 2000). Another Eminem's song, Kim is about the protagonist cutting his wife's throat and locking her in the truck of his car. Mystikal raps, "Came here with my d---k in my hand. Don't make me leave here with my foot in yo'a---".

Are these isolated incidents? No - this horrifying quashing of women is the subject of almost all rap songs. Rapper Ja Rule admitted to the Newsweek, "There is nothing to rap about except money, sex, murder or pimping" (Samuels, 2000). And right he is! Ja Rule himself sang in Livin' it Up, "Half the ho's hate me, half them love me. The ones that hate me only hate me 'cause they ain't f---ked me. And they say I'm lucky. Do you think I've got time to f---k all these ho's?".

A study of 490 rap songs found most containing lyrics endorsing misogyny and violence against women. Just look at the lyrics of Rammstein, "Red welts on teh white skin. I'm hurting you. And you are loudly whimpering. Now you are scared," and Insane Clown Poose, "I looked into her eyes and she was scared as hell. I  knew she was a snitch, so I cut off her tongue." Lil Booise sang in I smoke I drank, "I smoke (yea!), I drank (yea!) I'm suppose to stop but I can't (uh-huh). I am a dog (yea!), I love hoes (Yea!) And I'm addicted to money, cars adn clothes. Do it big then. I do it big nigga [3x]."

Then there is Rock music.  Groups such as Metallica, Black Sabbath, Megadeath, Slayer and AC/DC are most notorious for their lyrics. In 1989, the group Guns n' Roses reported a 2-year income of more than $20 million. And what do these groups sing? Song titles like, "Staring through the eyes of the dead", "F--- with a knife", "Stripped, raped and strangled", "She was asking for it", "Force fed broken glass".  To give you a taste of the sexism and savagery in these songs, read the following lyrics by Cannibal Corpse (group name in itself is disgusting and frightening - imagine how dreadful will be their songs),  from their song, F---- with a knife, "She liked the way it felt insider her. F---- her, harder, harder. Stick it in. Rip the skin. Carve and twist. Torn flesh, I cut her cr---- in her a--- I stick my c---- killing her as I come."

Where is the nauseating feminists movement now? You don't see the extreme, homicidal degradation of women in Rock 'n' Roll music? Children and young adults spend most of their life and life-savings listening to this music. Not only there is a misogynist mafia making money of such music but also corrupting the minds and criminalizing their behaviour. A study conducted by Strasburger and Hendren in 1995 concluded that music changes people into being socially withdrawn, emotionally reserved and violent. They overuse drugs and alcohol and exploit their sexual relations. A case study of on 17 year old boy in their research led Strasburger and Hendren to discover that this boy was in psychiatric hospital for several suicidal attempts. He admitted to listening to heavy metal rock, being part of a satanic cult and performing several female sacrifices as part of this cult.

Rock 'n' Roll has made the United States the world's most chavuinistic nation in the world.  1 woman is raped every 2 minutes in the United States, 1 in 7 has been raped in her lifetime, and 30% of women murdered in the US are killed by their husbands, ex-husbands, or boyfriends (US Justice Department). Can you produce such haunting statistics about any Muslim country?

It's not just music but television, commercials and the internet preach hatred of women and barbarity. Even children are brainwashed into insulting and sexually abusing women. In 1974, a 9-year-old girl was attacked by three girls and aboy and raped with a soda bottle. The children later admitted that they got the idea of rape from a TV movie, Born Innocent,  that was aired on NBC. In 1977, a 15-year-old boy was put on trial for the burglary and murder of an elderly woman. The boy claimed that he was merely copying an episode from Kojak, one of his favourite TV programs, where a woman had been shot by intruders. The boy said he wanted to shave his head so he could more like his hero, Kojak. 1n 2001, a 13-year-old boy inadvertently killed a much younger girl as he wrestled with her. He watched wrestling on TV. A 12 year-old boy killed a 6 year-old-girl who was being babysat by his mother in his house. Her autopsy revealed that the girl suffered from a fractured skull, lacerated liver, internal hemorrahge adn more than 30 other injuries. Morbid, but true. The Rock 'n' Roll religion controls and consumes the general public, thereby obsessing with sex and sadism. Can any nation survive such maiming for long? Who are the real terrorists - the media or the Muslims?

And commercials? Have you ever seen a fat dark-skinned women on TV? No, you probably only see, white-skinned anorexic women in close to no clothing selling everything from shoes, stationary, sauce and sports car. Result? Women want to be skinny and scandalous and men want to ... well, you know. Impact on society? Approximately 19 million new STI cases occur each year: about half in young persons aged 15 to 24. Also nearly 3 million new cases of chlamydia occur every year. Of all cases in female patients, half occur in girls aged 15 to 19. HPV affects about 20 million people in the U.S as well; about 6.2 million new HPV infections occur each year. HPV infection also causes vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and head and neck cancers. In 2006, more than 35,000 new HIV cases were diagnosed in the U.S. More than 500,000 Americans have died of AIDS, with 16,000 deaths occurring each year. Moreover the report stated that about 750,000 teenagers become pregnant each year. Teen parents are more likely to drop out of school, continue to have non-marital pregnancies, change jobs more frequently, be on welfare, and have mental and physical health problems. Not to mention early sexual activity and multiple partners are even associated with pain and suffering from broken relationships, a sense of betrayal and abandonment, confusion about romantic feelings, altered self-esteem, depression, and impaired ability to form healthy long-term relationships. (See: The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeon, 2008 - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6 ... ntent;col1)

Would any woman want to live like this? Do you want your father and brothers to listen to music that dehuamizes you? Do you want your neighbours' kids watch programs that brutalize women? Do you want to read magazines that demand you murder your health and slay your mind in order to become an ideal sexpot?

Islam

I choose Islam because it is reasonable and respectful. I like how Islam connects me to my Creator, it reminds me that everything around me is a sign of His Mercy and existence. Allah (God) says, "And a sign for them is the dead earth.  We have brought it to life and brought forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therefrom some springs – That they may eat of His fruit.  And their hands have not produced it, so will they not be grateful? Exalted is He who created all pairs – from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know. And a sign for them is the night.  We remove from it [the light of] day, so they are [left] in darkness. And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point.  That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And the moon – We have determined for it phases, until it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk. It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers in a laden ship. And We created for them from the likes of it that which they ride." - [Quran, 36:33-42]
Can I deny the earth, the trees and the fruits? Can I deny the sky, the sun and the moon? Then how can I deny Allah who created the very earth on which I stand, the fruits which I eat, the sky that covers me and the sun that shines upon me?

I also like Islam because it teaches me that women are persons of great caliber and honoure. Take Aisha (r.a) for instance, an early woman of Islam and also the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).  She was an orator, teacher, scholar, an expert, a social reformer and a wife. She exerted influence over men and women and provided them with inspiration and leadership. Her speech was rich and captivating. Her answers, decisive and profound. She was the guardian and mentor of the orphans in her city. Simultaneously, she was a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband. She didn't graduate from any university (because there was none at her time) but today her utterances are studied in faculties of literature; her legal rulings are studied in law schools and her life is researched by students and teachers of Muslim History all over the world.
Then there is Fatimah (r.a), the resplendent, pure and acetic was the youngest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Her face beamed of a radiant light so much that it is said that when she stood for prayer, her room reflected the light of her countenance. She spent most of her time in worship of Allah and reading the Qur'an. Although she as busy with her 4 children, she ran a soup kitchen for the poor and destitute of her city. The hungry would always find a free meal in her house. She also volunteered as a nurse for the wounded in battle.  There are many other examples of diligent and gallant Muslim women. Read: Contributions of women in spreading the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and Women scholars of Hadith.

Islam instills in women the passion to study audaciously and work hard in performing good deeds. In fact, Allah often mentions women in the Qur'an, along with men (thereby giving both genders equal-footing in religion) and motivates them to do good. Allah (God) says, "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." [Qur'an, 16:97].
In defense of women, Allah (God) teaches men, "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." [Qur'an, 30:21] Women are the partners of men and their companion so there should be love, tenderness, grace and leniency in husband and wife relationship. Allah orders men to give women their rights, "O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allāh, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allāh is ever, over you, an Observer." [Qur'an, 4:1]
Even if a husband dislikes a quality in his wife, he cannot cut her or slap her around as the Rock 'n' Roll religion advocates. Allah (God) says, " O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them .... And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good." [Qur'an, 4:19] As his final and ultimate advise, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) warned men, "Fear Allah (God) regarding women. Verily you have married them with the trust of Allah, and made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah. You have got rights over them, and they got rights over you in respect of their food and clothing according to your means."

You must be wondering, Islam doesn't talk about dating? What about rights of girlfriends? Well, men don't date in Islam - they marry women and keep them as wives with care and dignity. So you decide inshaAllah which religion you want to follow and what kind of a woman you want to be.

Reference: Strasburger, Victor C., and Barbara J. Wilson. Children, adolescents, & the media . Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2002. Print.