The quran miracles

The contradictions of the Bible

sobhanak — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:26:22 GMT

The contradictions of the Bible

Zeinb Abd Al-Azeiz (PHD)

trsnalsted by : Magdy Abd Alshafy

Christians often turn angry and displeased when some comment on the contradictions in the Bibles- these contradictions that amount to fearful numbers . They even indict whoever claim that that they encroache upon the sanctity of the holy revealed texts .

To refute this fact , they say : , these are not paradoxes but rather facts that integrate one another, they claim that just to cover up these scientific contradictions

In fact , these claimed sanctity was impeached by Vatican three times: the first was in Trant synod in 1546 that issued a decree that " God is the author of the Holy Book" , a sentence that is recorded in the document of this synod, and that curse will haunt whoever asks about the credence of anything . ( Synods , volume 111, 1994)

The second time midwifed the advancement of science , historical studies and linguistics , this time Vatican backtracked on its first decree " God is the author " to say in Vatican synod , 1869 " God inspired the apostles through the holy ghost ( to write the Bible )

The third time was in the Vatican synod , 1965 in which the critical studies that laid to rest the credence of the Holy Book generally and the New testament in particular was given the main interest . sequence to long consultations and study concerning how to couch a new sentence to express that required change which is contrary to what remained for long centuries to be once-clampdown decrees concerning deeming the biblical infallable , they reached five formulations to dilute the impact on the adherents and they conceded on final formula with consensus of 2344 supporting voters against 6 voters opposing .

The final decisive word issued from Vatican concerning this point was " These books , though containing what is incomplete and what is false, testify to the fact that these were divine moral lessons"

In "The World of the Holy Book magazine , number "137" , September to October , an article entitled " Who wrote the Holy Book " comments on the same point , this aticle came in the first place , we read an article by professor J.Moinght , faculties of Jaweit , paris , in which he refers to two difficulties apropos to the Holy Book , he says " the Holy Book is not a book as the term book really means , rather it is a complete library , it is a group of books and a group of literary kinds from different languages whose authorship can be traced back to tens of centuries and that all its books were collected gradually.

Second , each of these books wasn't authored at one go by the same author bur rather each book was authored or rather collected from scattered pieces of heritage and dispersed writings from different sources after being rewritten and reformulated and substituting parts in the place of others .

This citation shows how this information has become common that they are widely handled on newspapers and magazines. If we bear in mind the final resolutions of Jesus Seminar which states that "82% of the words that are ascribed toJesus weren't his and that 86% of the deeds that were ascribed to him were not his either , we will surely conceive how haplessly exorbitant the situation is and how deep the chasm between the facts and the scientists is , the multitude among them are theologians , moreover , so grave is their feverish insistence to proselyte the world into Christianity at any cost ,notwithstanding mottos such as they respect the adherents of other religions that they chant resoundingly and vociferously .

My aim is not to hurt the feelings nor degenerate any one as no one here to be held accountable for what these synods had inserted or changed over the span of history but my aim is to put forth the question to Moslems who remain a target to persistent campaigns supported by political pressure for converting them into Christianity .

Can those who persistently insist on proselyting the world into Christianity realize how grave and heinous that act is when they try to uproot the others' religion ?

Can those who are equipped with all potentialities desist promulgating such texts and doctrines of which its men confessed that they comprise what is incomplete and what is false?!!!

It is ironical that they tried to circumvent the glaring contradictions , though they already referred to , by claiming that they are expressions of different visions or expressions or they integrate one another….so a phrase like " the bible according to …" is coined though this phrase implies a large area of implicit skepticism.

A cursory look at these contradiction that the British Encyclopedia estimated to be 150.000 and now doubled by latest studies will enable the reader , irrespective of his religion , to touch the reality and if they could be trusted as divine texts .

Changing the words of the bible is going on to the extent that you find that the bible in English for example still keeps some words while in Arabic we find that the translation of some words have been changed for nothing but to match the newly discovered facts , for example the word circle in the following verse "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth"has been changed to be " the globe " while we can find the translation of the circle is still there in old version of the same Bible – it was a crime , according to the church standpoint , for which Galileo stood before the court and it is clear that this change was inserted after his words were scientifically proved to be true .

for contradictions and scientific and historicla errors ,

http://www.55a.net/firas/english/?page=show_det&id=307

A Spanish young man reverts to Islam

sobhanak — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:23:37 GMT

A Spanish young man reverts to Islam

This is a true story that I personally heard from Dr.Zagloul Al-Nagar, He says” One year I met a young Muslim man during the Hajj, he was accompanied by his young child who has already learned the Holy Quran entirely by heart. I asked him why he reverted to Islam.

“It is music that stands behind my embracing Islam”. He says.

I thought he was joking so I asked” Are you serious? then how?”

The Youngman seriously answered saying “yes, I am serious. I was studying music and at that time I was keen on knowing the origin of the classic music, I was told that it was Beethoven and many others, this was not a convincing answer, so I started searching for myself, eventually I discovered that the source of the classical music is terza rima , a kind of music that was played in what is known as Spain ,where Moslems lived. This kind of music was played to glorify the name of Allaah( God) and to praise the attributes of the prophet, I admired his attributes so much that were so great and noble even with is enemies. I decided to study more and more so I moved where I could study so attentively , I was so fortunate when I found a Moslem family living in the same street and they invited me to stay with them and I found warm welcome there. I used to watch them doing the daily prayer and reciting the Holy Quran. I felt a certain kind of ecstasy that filled my soul and tranquility that I have never experienced before when listening to music… The music emitting from the wording and phrasing of Quran stem from something that no literary men could identify , it is internal music . I had a very accurate ear that understands and feels music so much , when I heard the Holy Quran , I never found what can be a musical error.

It happened that I was invited to a music conference in Morocco , it was then that the prayer call echoed through the microphone, all people left me and went to pray. I was near the Mosque , I could hear the imam reading the Holy Quran which penetrated my heart, filled me with untold ecstasy, I started to sob ,cry, my eyes were shedding tears, I did not know why I cry.

On finishing the prayer, my Muslim friends came to me .

When they looked at my face they thought that some bad news reached me from Spain but I said nothing bad reached me. I didn’t know why I cry .When I came back to Spain , I embraced Islam. The Saudi ambassador invited me to do the Hajj. In Saudi Arabia ,he took me to king Khalid, who asked me about the best of my wish.

“My wish is to learn Islam here to teach people in Spain “,I said.

So I stayed there for nine years studying Islam till I got my MA in Islamic teachings and my wife did the same too.

When I returned to Spain, I established a school in which 1200 children are studying. later and after many years I met him again, now his child has grown up and he, too, teaches Islam in the same school.

I present this story to those who loves music and I whisper in their ears” reading God’s word with meditation and listening to it attentively is a great blessing and a great joy that no other music can give…Don’t miss this chance…Singing and music can’t be in harmony with God’s word in the human heart, The preference of God’s word over the other’s word is the same as God’s preference over his creatures.

Start of Universe

sobhanak — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:42:53 GMT

Start of Universe

By Dr: Salama Abdelhady

We may look to the God’s description of the start of creation in Qur’an and in Bible. It will be seen that the Qur’an is the Holy Book which is revealed to Mohamed from the Wise and The All-Knowing God. However, the wording of the same facts in the Bible shows there were some hands which cast these facts in a human-lagging style. It can be found in the Bible some descriptions which are not corresponding to the modern sciences. This fact is declared by the Catholic Church in an article with the title:

“Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible", By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, on timesonline”

Now, let us read how the Quran described the start of the universe. Such moment that had not been witnessed by any one of us as the Quran states in the following verse:

[18/51] I called them they have not witnessed the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: So, it is for Me to help and lead them to know and not to go astray!

The creation of the universe had been done by the will, science and wisdom of the Creator. This creation is described in many surahs (chapters) of the Quran. Each surah looks at specific view of such wisdom and knowledge. We may read in Chapter 41 (Surat Fossilat):

[41/9-12] Say: "Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? and do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the whole universe", He set on the (earth). Mountains standing firm (to stretch the surface layers by its roots), high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and created the measures therein for every thing to give them nourishment in due proportions, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance), Moreover, He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together (mutually), willingly or by our implement " They said: "We do come (each follow a specific order), in a willing obedience.", So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command (orbits and motion). And We adorned the lower heaven with lights (from the sun and the moon), and (provided it) with a guard (guarding layers of Ozone). Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.

Summing up the number of days will be more than six days. But there is an overlap in these days which you may see in modern project management. Such overlap stands for the difference in the number of days.

Now, compare these stages of creation, into the same story as expressed in the Bible, i.e. the Old Testament.

Genesis 1

The Creation of the World

1:1 In the beginning¹ God² created³ the heavens and the earth.⁴

1:2 Now⁵ the earth⁶ was without shape and empty,⁷ and darkness⁸ was over the surface of the watery deep,⁹ but the Spirit of God¹⁰ was moving¹¹ over the surface¹² of the water.¹³ 1:3 God said,¹⁴ “Let there be¹⁵ light.”¹⁶ And there was light! 1:4 God saw¹⁷ that the light was good,¹⁸ so God separated¹⁹ the light from the darkness. 1:5 God called²⁰ the light “day” and the darkness²¹ “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.²²

1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse²³ in the midst of the waters and let it separate water²⁴ from water. 1:7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.²⁵ It was so.²⁶ 1:8 God called the expanse “sky.”²⁷ There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.

1:9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place²⁸ and let dry ground appear.”²⁹ It was so. 1:10 God called the dry ground “land”³⁰ and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.

1:11 God said, “Let the land produce vegetation:³¹ plants yielding seeds according to their kinds,³² and³³ trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” It was so. 1:12 The land produced vegetation – plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good. 1:13 There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

1:14 God said, “Let there be lights³⁴ in the expanse³⁵ of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs³⁶ to indicate seasons and days and years, 1:15 and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” It was so. 1:16 God made two great lights³⁷ – the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night. He made the stars also.³⁸ 1:17 God placed the lights³⁹ in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth, 1:18 to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.⁴⁰ God saw that it was good. 1:19 There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.

1:20 God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms⁴¹ of living creatures and let birds fly⁴² above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 1:21 God created the great sea creatures⁴³ and every living and moving thing with which the water swarmed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good. 1:22God blessed them⁴⁴ and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”⁴⁵ 1:23 There was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day. 1:24 God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its kind.”⁴⁶ It was so. 1:25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the cattle according to their kinds, and all the creatures that creep along the ground according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.

1:26Then God said, “Let us make⁴⁷ humankind⁴⁸ in our image, after our likeness,⁴⁹ so they may rule⁵⁰ over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth,⁵¹ and over all the creatures that move⁵² on the earth.”

1:27 God created humankind⁵³ in his own image, in the image of God he created them,⁵⁴

male and female he created them.⁵⁵

1:28 God blessed⁵⁶ them and said⁵⁷ to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it!⁵⁸ Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”⁵⁹ 1:29 Then God said, “I now⁶⁰ give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.⁶¹ 1:30And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give⁶² every green plant for food.” It was so.

1:31 God saw all that he had made – and it was very good!⁶³ There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.Genesis 22:1 The heavens and the earth¹ were completed with everything that was in them.² 2:2 By³ the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing,⁴ and he ceased⁵ on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. 2:3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy⁶ because on it he ceased all the work that he⁷ had been doing in creation.⁸

The Creation of Man and Woman

2:4 This is the account⁹ of the heavens and the earth¹⁰ when they were created – when the Lord God¹¹ made the earth and heavens.¹²

2:5Now¹³ no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field¹⁴ had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.¹⁵ 2:6 Springs¹⁶ would well up¹⁷ from the earth and water¹⁸ the whole surface of the ground.¹⁹ 2:7 The Lord God formed²⁰ the man from the soil of the ground²¹ and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,²² and the man became a living being.²³

2:8 The Lord God planted an orchard²⁴ in the east,²⁵ in Eden;²⁶ and there he placed the man he had formed.²⁷ 2:9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil,²⁸ every tree that was pleasing to look at²⁹ and good for food. (Now³⁰ the tree of life³¹ and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil³² were in the middle of the orchard.)

2:10 Now³³ a river flows³⁴ from Eden³⁵ to water the orchard, and from there it divides³⁶ into four headstreams.³⁷ 2:11 The name of the first is Pishon; it runs through³⁸ the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. :12 (The gold of that land is pure;³⁹ pearls⁴⁰ and lapis lazuli⁴¹ are also there). 2:13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through⁴² the entire land of Cush.⁴³ 2:14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria.⁴⁴ The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Of course, we may see that both texts give similar stories. In the Bible, you find human interpretations of limited understanding to something heard. However, in the Qur’an you find statements that fit to revelation from The Wise and All-Knowing God. This is stated by the following verses:

[27 / 6] As to thee, the Quran is bestowed upon thee from the presence of One Who is Wise and All-Knowing.

Another view of His Wisdom in creation is stated also in the following verses that describes the initial explosion of the initial material of the universe. Such bad term “Great Explosion” as nominated or assumed by the scientists is expressed by the creator in a better scientific term “Rupture”. Such term leads to who performs such rupture and expresses His Wisdom and Power.

[21/30 - 33] Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were stitched together (as the initial origin of the Creation), before We ruptured them asunder? Then, We made every living thing starting by water. Will they not then believe? And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive guidance. And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!

The wisdom in creation is expressed also in the following verses:

[ 2 /21 - 22] O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, Who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness; Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

Another side of the Creator’s wisdom in the universe’s creation is given also in the following verses:

[23/17-20] And We have made, above you, seven tracts; and We are never unmindful of (Our) Creation. And We send down water from the sky according to (due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease). With it We grow for you Gardens of date-palms and vines: in them have ye abundant fruits: and of them ye eat (and have enjoyment), Also a tree springing out of Mount Sinai, which produces oil, and relish for those who use it for food.

The God designed the sun and the moon to be sources of light before any creation had been started. This will is expressed in the following verses:

[10 / 3 - 5] Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will yet not receive admonition? To Him will be your return, of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the process of Creation, and repeateth it, that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness; but those who reject Him will have draughts of boiling fluids, and a Penalty grievous, because they did reject Him. It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for it; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand.

The succession of day and night on the earth is described since more than 14 centuries in the following verses through miraculous expressions that are surely revealed from Allah: [39/4-6] He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions and coordination), He makes the Night overlap spherically the Day (due to revolving the spherical earth), and the Day overlap spherically the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law) each one follows a course of motion for an appointed time. Is not He the Exalted in Power, He Who forgives again and again? He created you (all) from a single Person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and He sent down (the design of genetic maps of) eight head of cattle in pairs for your service: He makes (creates) you, in the wombs of your mothers, in successive stages, one after another (according to a law), in three veils of darkness (three layers of protection). This is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

The unity of Creation is expressed in the following verse:

[67 / 3] He Who created seven identical heavens (seven here indicates repeated creations of unlimited number of heavens as repeated cycles of the 7 days week), no want of proportion wilt (i.e. all are created as one unit with harmonic proportions) thou see in the Creation of the Most Gracious Allah. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?

God assures that He set the laws that keep the prevailing balance and equilibrium in the universe by His Wisdom:

[15 / 19-21] And the earth We have extended it (in volume and all dimensions); place in it the settlements (that gives it the mass and gravity that stabilize its motion and the creatures on its surface); and produced (create) therein all kinds of things in a due balance (physically and proportionally, i.e. plants in balance with animals, both are in balance to atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, water in balance to needs, heat in balance to warm, etc.), And We have provided therein means of subsistence, for you and for those for whose sustenance ye are not responsible. And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures.

What is written here is just a part from unlimited number of verse which explains the wisdom of God as a Wise Creator for a magnificent universe. One of His Names Is stemmed from the word Magnificent ( the Magnificenator, i.e. the One who creates a magnificent universe)

However, several remarks may be seen regarding start of creation in the Bible:

1.Stating a God’s spirit moving over the surface of the water is illogic.

2.Considering God’s day limited by the sunrise and the sunset. In the Quran, God’s day cannot be defined by our limited days; the Quran states that God’s day may be as thousand years or fifty thousand years.

[32/5] He rules (all) affairs from the heavens to the earth: in the end will (all affairs) go up to Him, on a Day, its range may be (as) a thousand years of your reckoning

[70/4] The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

3.Stating that God had no formal knowledge of what will be good and what will be bad. “He saw the light was good, God saw that was good”.

4.It states that the earth is plane; all the earth will be once in light, once in dark, one direction for the east and other direction for the west. The Quran stated the spherical overlapping of the day over the night and the night over the day, as stated previously.

5.It limits the universe creation to the earth only sources of light. So, it ignores the greatness of the whole universe.

For the reader: Can you imagine really the words of Genesis are from God and the words of the Quran are not?

I think We should actually approve the truth of the following Verse and We should say as the Muslim is accustomed to say: Sadaka (i.e. Veracity is in the Words of) Allah, The Great God.

[ 7 / 52] For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on science and knowledge, which We explained in detail, as a guide and a mercy to all who believe (in Him).

The beginning of Creation in the Bible and in the Holy Quran

sobhanak — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:42:07 GMT

The beginning of Creation in the Bible and in the Holy Quran

2. Human Creation

By professor Dr . Salam Abd Al-Hady

We , Moslems , believe in the Bible as God's word , but the problem that we Moslem oppose to is that The Bible, now , is no longer God's word , these are not mere words based on no scientific bases .Human tampering found its way to the Christian doctrine and even to most of its parts . This is crystal clear when we revise the story of creation in the Bible in terms of the newly established scientific information . The Bible is pregnant with scientific error owing to human tampering and this is not an Islamic point of view though the Holy Quran is emphatic on this fact …Most of the colossus Christian writer are of the same opinion . In this short article we will uncover these errors and , to be fair , we will also show what Quran says

The start of the human creation is described in the Quran in many chapters (Surahs) and is told in the Bible in the beginning of Genesis only. Both books are common in stating that Adam was initially created from the soil of the ground or the mud, that converting a body of mud into a living body is done by God’s breathing in this lifeless body of mud, that the creation of Adam preceded the Creation of his wife Eva and that Eva was created from Adam’s bones. However, the Quran stated that Eva was created from Adam’s body only without specifying if it was from his bones or only a cell. In the Bible, it was stated that God breathed in Adam’s nostrils a breath of life, while in the Quran it is stated that God breathed into Adam’s body a heavenly spiritual breath.

Generally, most of these statements may be proved logically and scientifically. The elements that are forming the human body are the same elements that are found in soil of the ground or in mud. Similarly, the cells of a man and a woman have similar genetic maps with the same number of Chromosomes that means they have a common origin, i.e. Eva came from Adam’s body as stated. Looking at the statements of the Bible and Quran concerning God’s breath into Adam, we find the Quranic statement is more accurate because God’s breath did not only convert the body of mud into a living body, but it gives him a distinguished spirit of consciousness, recognition, intelligence and broad abilities to learn, think, memorize, choose, decide, develop, innovate, rule over other creatures and lead their life, etc.

The scientists are unable up till now to know how a lifeless body of mud can be converted into a living being. Surely it is impossible to imagine this conversion to happen without believing in a Creator who gifted his secret to such inert body. In laboratories, they prepared the amino acids and the protein chains and tried to convert such lifeless materials into living cells that are able to move, feed, breath, exert, feel, grow and perform assigned tasks. However, as expected, they failed. Similarly, science is not able to define the spirit or soul gifted from God to the human being to be alive and to have such abilities. As the religions informed, we have a spirit from God. However, the materialistic scientists deny this fact. So, they are unable to find an answer for the way of conversion of a lifeless body into a living and thinking one. Generally, our sciences are limited to a degree that we cannot find a scientific definition for what really exists in our bodies. The Quran expressed this fact in the following verse:

"They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of inspiration). Say: "It is a God’s property (that you cannot recognize) and that my Lord gifted you only some limits of His knowledge and sciences, (O men!)" [17 / 85]

Of course, the truth of this verse is still approved. The knowledge that we have been able to grasp in this field is still limited and we are unable up to now to find a scientific definition of the soul. Our scientists find no answer other than accepting such religious definition of the soul as our sciences are limited, as can be read in the following verse:.

It is He Who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living, and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead: and thus shall ye be brought out (from the dead in the day of resurrection). [30 /19]

Of course, the spirit is a God’s property which is unknown to us as His nature is also unknown to us ,We cannot define His nature through our materialistic senses or sciences. Our vision and consciousness with the gifted abilities are limited but his vision is not. These facts are also stated in the following verse:

No vision can grasp Him. But His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things. [6/103]

Both books, i.e. the Quran and the Bible, stated that God had placed plants and animals in the earth before Adam’s creation and that Adam was created at the end.

The Quran states too that the Creation of Adam was preceded by the creation of the angles and the jinni (such non-natural unseen world), as it stated that the creation of the angles was done from light and that of the jinn was done from fire. Accepting that the creation of the human being started from mud, we should accept these statements too. The Quran states also that Satan was a Jinni who worshipped God sincerely. So, God gave him a closed rank to God’s angles. However, Satan is converted to be an evil after he disobeyed one of the God’s commands. This command belongs to Adam’s creation. God ordered all the angles, and Satan was close to them, to bow in respect to Adam who was gifted a spiritual breath from God. All of them obeyed God’s command but the Satan did not. He refused doing that because of his arrogance and short sight, thinking that his origin from fire is better than Adam’s origin from mud. So, the Satan was expelled from the angle’s companion in the Paradise. He and his tribe bore hatred to Adam and his offspring. So, the Satan became an enemy for the whole of mankind. He tries to convert any man to commit the same arrogance which he committed. It is done through his abilities to the invisible temptation of man in every moment.

Both books state that the human life on the earth is limited and that such short life will be as a test for the human beings. Each of us will be rewarded for his deeds on the earth, i.e. to what we are doing in accordance with God’s orders and justice as well as devotion and good dealing to others. Those who are performing good deeds in our earthy life will be rewarded by a second endless good life in the Paradise after resurrection. However, those who live for just satisfaction of their own desires and transgressing the others, those will receive bad sufferings during their endless second life in a hell. The Bible does not define the nature of the people after resurrection, but it is imagined as angles or lighting bodies. However, the Quran states that those of good deeds will retain their human bodies as youth. Such statement is found in many chapters of the Quran. We may read in one of them:

"Blessed be He in Whose hands are Dominion; and He over all things hath Power; He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving "[67/1]

Both books stated that God had sent messengers for people to acknowledge them that there is a God who created them, ask them to worship Him, obey Him and to wait a reward for their deeds in an eternal life after resurrection. This statement is mentioned in Quran in many chapters. As an example we may read the following verse: Verily this Quran doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the glad tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward" [16/9]

Both books state that God has given to the human beings all the means to rule over the earth during their testifying as the abilities to hear, see, know, understand, innovate, choose and decide. In addition, God subjected to the man all things in the earth and sky as rains, plants, cattle, fish, birds, lands, air, etc. This statement can be read in many verses in the Quran as:

"Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Allah, without knowledge and without guidance, and without a Book to enlighten them! [31/20]

Both books are stating that God gives Adam the ability to learn and he informed him after his creation with the names of every thing on the earth and that He taught him how to make use of it. According to the Quran, this was the reason of obliging the angels to respect Adam as they were not informed by such knowledge.

However, according to the both books, God placed Adam in Eden or Gannah after He had formed him. Eden in Hebrew means pleasure and Gannah in Arabic means something like Paradise. In these places Adam and Eve received a full accommodation at a heavenly level. Such accommodation was to testify the ability of Adam and Eve to obey God’s command. God subjected them to a test with known results. God created Adam and He knows what time Adam and Eve can sustain their desires to discover something unknown and to resist the temptation of Satan. Hence, he knows that they were going to leave their limited accommodation in Eden or Gannah. God prepared the earth for receiving Adam, Eve and their Birth after their expected failure in the first held human test. According to Both books (Quran and Bible), such command was to eat from any tree there but not to eat from a specific tree in the middle of such Eden or Gannah. God made such test for Adam to be a model for Adam and the human beings to learn them many essential lessons:

1.The survival of our life is tied to the full obedience to His Rules or Law.

2.Every one is expected to fail in fulfilling some obligation of such obedience.

3.There is a way to forgiveness. It is the repentance to Allah.

According to both books, Adam and Eve had really failed in the first test, as expected. So, they were directed out of their initial accommodation to their permanent stay on the earth.

However, it is stated in the Quran that Satan was the source of temptation to Adam and Eve and he was the one who deceived them as revenge. As stated, Adam was the reason of God’s anger and hate to him. In the Holy book, it is stated that a serpent was whispering to Eve and Eve whispered to Adam to disobey God’s order. Such statements are illogic in many aspects. God does not gift the serpent the abilities to speak, deceive and plan for Eve’s temptation. Man’s abilities were to rule over all mud’s creatures. Adam and Eve are of equal wills and no one may deceive the other. So, God did not damn the serpent by creeping since it belongs to reptiles which are creeping animals. Similarly, God did not curse Eve to be dominated by the man since the man has his roles and similarly the woman has her roles in the family life. Eve is not also cursed by pain since all the mammals suffer pains in giving birth before the creation of Eve.

In the Bible it is stated that the forbidden tree, in the middle of Eden, was a tree of life and tree of knowledge the good and evil. That the eyes of Adam and Eve were closed before eating from this tree and that their eyes were opened after eating it. And the God told Adam and Eve if you will eat from this tree you will die. Such statements are against the logic. God had distinguished Adam with the ability to learn and to know every thing. How did he forbid him from eating the fruits of a tree of knowledge? If God ordered Adam not to eat from that tree which acknowledges them with the good and evil, how could Adam be able to distinguish if it is good or evil to eat from such tree or to obey and disobey God? How Adam was able to learn the names of every thing on the earth with closed eyes. God surely told the truth, how should He tell Adam he will die when eating from this tree?

The Quran does not state the forbidden tree was a tree of knowledge and that Adam’s or Eve’s eyes were closed. But we may understand that the fruits of such tree may motivate some human desires or excretion of residues. It is not stated in the Quran also that God threatened them with a lie. He ordered them not to eat from this tree and to eat from any other tree. They should obey God’s orders without arguing or arrogance. However, they were going to their destiny; the life on the earth for a limited time too. Then according to their deeds, they may return once more to such heavenly accommodation.

In the Quran, it is sated that Satan succeeded in the temptation of Adam and Eve by swearing to them with the name of Allah that he was a good adviser. So, they obeyed him and disobeyed God. Both books state that Adam and Eve felt shamed after eating from the forbidden tree. Just eating from this tree, they discovered their shames, i.e. their genitals or their naked bodies. Such shames were not discovered by them before eating such tree. So, they sewed some leaves from Eden together and made coverings for themselves. Hearing God, they were feeling sorry and shame. These statements are found in the following verses of Quran: [7/20-22] Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them (as a temptation), in order to reveal to them their shame that was hidden from them (before): he said: "Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live forever." And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the Garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you.

The Quran stated that God taught Adam how to ask God’s forgiveness and how to repent after their guilt in the following verse: "[2/37] Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration (for repenting), and his Lord turned towards him (forgave him); for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful."

However, the Bible did not mention how God forgave Adam and Eve for their committed sin. However, both books states that Adam and Eve were sent to the Earth, their permanent destiny, after God’s facing. They were told that in the earth they should suffer the efforts to have their food, their sustenance and mutual transgression between themselves. In the Quran it is stated also that the life of Adam’s race will be subjected to God’s guidance through His messengers. This prophecy was told to Adam before his settlement on the earth with Eve, as Adam was the first prophet to the human race. The Quran states such prophecies in the following verses:

[ 20/ 123-124] He said: "Get ye down, both of you, all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery. "But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment."

Undoubtedly, both books have acknowledged us with embodied information that may guide us to know metaphysical worlds related to the spirits, jinni, angles and start of creation. Someone may have no faith in such things, but surely, when he is faced by a danger he asked such Power he feels to exist saying “Oh My God”. These feelings are described in the Quran by such the following verses: [6/63] Say: "Who is it that delivereth you from the dark recesses of land and sea, when ye call upon Him in humility and silent terror: `If He only delivers us from these (dangers), (we vow) we shall truly show our gratitude?'"

Similarly, all of us feel the existence of such metaphysical world at least when we see dreams that are realized. Such dreams are seen by our invisible spirits which leaves our bodies for a while when sleeping and forever when dying. Such statements can be read in the following verse of Quran.

[39/42] It is Allah that takes the souls (or spirits of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.

Surely, we notice many things that happen in the universe we live, such things have no definite explanation other than we should confess with the existence of many un-seen worlds or creatures that live with us. Some people are going astray by thinking that the Satan represents a competitive Enemy of God. It is a false statement which urges some to believe that God deceived Satan and He embodied Himself into a human body not to be discovered by Satan. God created Satan God and God is able to destroy him. But Satan’s punishment is postponed up to the Day of Judgment. . This is the true belief according to the verses of the Quran.

Now, we may offer the story of Adam’s creation as stated in the Bible, and tell the same story as revealed to Mohamed in Quran. It will be seen that there are common statements in both books. However, it will be seen also that the Bible gives some attributes that does not suit the Greatness and Holiness of God. Stating that God was moving about in the orchard is ridiculous. We should not think that God has limited movements as He is beyond our abilities to imagine. Stating that God asked “Where are you?” is also unbelievable since God is ever knowing by every thing, seen or unseen. Stating also that God may mislead Adam not to eat from a tree of knowledge and lying in His threat is also unbelievable. However, as I told, the Bible was written through people who have limited understanding to a real book delivered from God. So, both books have the same origin, but in the Quran we read the real words of God. In the Bible we just read a human interpretation of a real book from God.

Now, we may read firstly the written story in the Bible as follows:

2:7The Lord God formed²⁰ the man from the soil of the ground²¹ and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,²² and the man became a living being.²³

2:8 The Lord God planted an orchard²⁴ in the east,²⁵ in Eden;²⁶ and there he placed the man he had formed.²⁷ 2:9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, ²⁸ every tree that was pleasing to look at²⁹ and good for food. (Now³⁰ the tree of life³¹ and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil³² were in the middle of the orchard.)

2:10 Now³³ a river flows³⁴ from Eden³⁵ to

Water the orchard, and from there it divides³⁶ into four headstreams.³⁷ 2:11 The name of the first is Piton; it runs through³⁸ the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 2:12 (The gold of that land is pure;³⁹ pearls⁴⁰ and lapis lazuli⁴¹ are also there). 2:13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through⁴² the entire land of Cush.⁴³ 2:14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria.⁴⁴ The fourth river is the Euphrates.

2:15 The Lord God took the man and placed⁴⁵ him in the orchard in⁴⁶ Eden to care for it and to maintain it.⁴⁷ 2:16 Then the Lord God commanded⁴⁸ the man, “You may freely eat⁴⁹ fruit⁵⁰ from every tree of the orchard, 2:17 but⁵¹ you must not eat⁵² from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when⁵³ you eat from it you will surely die.”⁵⁴

2:18The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.⁵⁵ I will make a companion⁵⁶ for him who corresponds to him.”⁵⁷ 2:19 The Lord God formed⁵⁸ out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would⁵⁹ name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 2:20 So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam⁶⁰ no companion who corresponded to him was found.⁶¹ 2:21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep,⁶² and while he was asleep,⁶³ he took part of the man’s side⁶⁴ and closed up the place with flesh.⁶⁵ 2:22 Then the Lord God made⁶⁶ a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 2:23 Then the man said,

“This one at last⁶⁷ is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

this one will be called⁶⁸ ‘woman,’

for she was taken out of⁶⁹ man.”⁷⁰

2:24 That is why⁷¹ a man leaves⁷² his father and mother and unites with⁷³ his wife, and they become a new family.⁷⁴ 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked,⁷⁵ but they were not ashamed.⁷⁶

The Temptation and the Fall

3:1 Now¹ the serpent² was more shrewd³ than any of the wild animals⁴ that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that⁵ God⁶ said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”⁷ 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat⁸ of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; 3:3 but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it,⁹ or else you will die.’”¹⁰ 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die,¹¹ 3:5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open¹² and you will be like divine beings who know¹³ good and evil.”¹⁴

3:6 When¹⁵ the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food,¹⁶ was attractive¹⁷ to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise,¹⁸ she took some of its fruit and ate it.¹⁹ She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.²⁰ 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

The Judgment Oracles of God at the Fall

3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about²¹ in the orchard at the breezy time²² of the day, and they hid²³ from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. 3:9 But the Lord God called to²⁴ the man and said to him, “Where are you?”²⁵ 3:10 The man replied,²⁶ “I heard you moving about²⁷ in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 3:11And the Lord God²⁸ said, “Who told you that you were naked?²⁹ Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”³⁰ 3:12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave³¹ me some fruit³² from the tree and I ate it.” 3:13 So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this³³ you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent³⁴ tricked³⁵ me, and I ate.”

3:14 The Lord God said to the serpent,³⁶

“Because you have done this, cursed³⁷ are you above all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl³⁸ and dust you will eat³⁹ all the days of your life. 3:15 And I will put hostility⁴⁰ between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring;⁴¹ her offspring will attack⁴² your head,

and⁴³ you⁴⁴ will attack her offspring’s heel.”⁴⁵ 3:16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase⁴⁶ your labor pains;⁴⁷ with pain you will give birth to children.You will want to control your husband,⁴⁸but he will dominate⁴⁹ you.”

3:17 But to Adam⁵⁰ he said, “Because you obeyed⁵¹ your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground⁵² thanks to you;⁵³ in painful toil you will eat⁵⁴ of it all the days of your life. 3:18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain⁵⁵ of the field. 3:19 By the sweat of your brow⁵⁶ you will eat food until you return to the ground,⁵⁷

for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”⁵⁸

3:20 The man⁵⁹ named his wife Eve,⁶⁰ because⁶¹ she was the mother of all the living.⁶² 3:21 The Lord God made garments from skin⁶³ for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 3:22 And the Lord God said, “Now⁶⁴ that the man has become like one of us,⁶⁵ knowing⁶⁶ good and evil, he must not be allowed⁶⁷ to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 3:23 So the Lord God expelled him⁶⁸ from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. 3:24 When he drove⁶⁹ the man out, he placed on the eastern side⁷⁰ of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries⁷¹ who used the flame of a whirling sword⁷² to guard the way to the tree of life.

A similar story was told in the Quran in many chapters.It will be satisfactory to offer only what is stated in three chapters of the Quran and try to analyze the dealing of the same events in the Quran and in the Bible:

The first chapter that told this story, is chapter or Surah number 2:

[2/30 - 38] Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praise and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."

[31] And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell Me the names of these if ye are right."They said: "Glory to Thee: of knowledge we have none, save what Thou hast taught us: in truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom." He said: "O Adam! Tell them their names." When he had told them, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heavens and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam:" and they bowed down: not so Iblis (Satan): he refused and was haughty: he was of those who reject Faith. We said: "O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression." Then did Satan make them slip from the (Garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. We said: "Get ye down, all (ye people), with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time." Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. We said: "Get ye down all from here: and if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be Companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein.

The same story was told also, but in a different viewing to the same events in another chapter of Quran as follows:

[ 7 / 11- 19] It is We Who created you and gave you shape; then We bade the angels bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; not so Iblis; he refused to be of those who bow down. (Allah) said: "What prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?" He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire, and him from clay." (Allah) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures)." He said: "Give me respite till the day they are raised up." (Allah) said: "Be thou amongst those who have respite." He said: "Because Thou hast thrown me out of the Way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on Thy Straight Way: "Then will I assault them from before them and behind them, from their right and their left: nor wilt Thou find, in most of them, gratitude (for Thy mercies)." (Allah) said: "Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee, Hell will I fill with you all. "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression."

As a summary, we may read the same story in another chapter of Quran as follows:

[38/71-83] Be hold, the Lord said to the angels: "I am about to create man from clay: "When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him." So the angels prostrated themselves, all of them together: Not so Iblis: he was haughty, and became one of those who reject Faith. (Allah) said: "O Iblis! what prevents thee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with My hands? Art thou haughty? or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?" (Iblis) said: "I am better than he: Thou createdst me from fire, and him thou createdst from clay." (Allah) said: "Then get thee out from here: for thou art rejected, accursed. "And My Curse shall be on thee till the Day of Judgment." (Iblis) said: "O my Lord! give me then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised." (Allah) said: "Respite then is granted thee; "Till the Day of the Time Appointed." (Iblis) said: "Then by Thy Power, I will put them all in the wrong, "Except Thy Servants amongst them, sincere and purified (by Thy grace)."

As we see, these verses offered us the Glory of the Creator, the weakness of Satan or Iblis as the Quran called, Adam’s sin and how God forgave him, a model for repentance and how God’s obedience may save our fortune. It also offers who are the angles, the guidance of God, the human’s tests to distinguish who may deserve God’s satisfaction or God’s anger and what may happen in the day of resurrection.

As a conclusion; we may find that the Quran offers the creation story into integrated Holy pieces found in different chapters of the Quran. The story found in the Quran glorifies the Creator and is stated through a logical procedure that convinces the developed thinking and distinguish the roles of the main participants in the start of creation.

However, there are some Christian theologians who accused Mohamed of receiving teachings from different sects before his mission. The question is: Can an illiterate man like Mohamed be able to translate the old Bible from Hebrew to Arabic, correct its illogic statements into logical one and to cast such statements into a Holy style that glorifies God.

Mohummed , the prophet of Islam

sobhanak — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:08:40 GMT

Mohummed , the prophet of Islam

You may be an atheist or an agnostic or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today. You may have been a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom. No matter what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be— YOU STILL MUST KNOW THIS MAN!

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings, and he revolutionized the worlds of human thought and human action for all time.His name was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Almighty Creator be upon him)—and he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of twenty-three years.Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Arabia in 570 CE, and when he died at the age of 63, the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had changes from paganism and idol worship to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; from utter moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since.The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him "the most successful of all religious personalities of the world." Bernard Shaw said, "if Muhammad (pbuh) were alive today, he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times." Thomas Carlysle was amazed as to how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades. Napoleon and Gandhi never tired of dreaming of a society along the lines established by this man in Arabia fourteen centuries ago.Indeed no other human being ever accomplished so much, in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior, in so limited a space of time, as did Muhammad (pbuh). He was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, a political thinker, a military genius, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father—all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these difficult departments of life.The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. None of the other great leaders of the world ever combined within himself so many different qualities to such an amazing level of perfection as did Muhammad (pbuh).The lives and teachings of other great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and the place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity today to reconstruct accurately and precisely the lives and teachings of those men.Not so this man Muhammad (pbuh). Not only was he born in the fullest blaze of recorded history, but every detail of his private and public life, of his actions and utterances, has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the information so preserved is vouched for not only by faithful followers but also by unbiased critics and open-minded scholars.At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief—secular or religious, social or political —which could surpass or equal ISLAM—the system which Muhammad (pbuh) propounded. In a fast-changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, Islam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years. What is more, the positive changes that are taking place in the world of human thought and behavior truly and consistently reflect the healthy influence of Islam in these areas.It is not given to the best of thinkers to put their ideas completely into practice, and to see the seeds of their labors grow and bear fruit in their own lifetime. Except of course, Muhammad (pbuh), who not only preached the most wonderful ideas but also successfully translated each one of them into practice. At the time of his death his teachings were not mere precepts and ideas straining for fulfillment. They had become the very core of the life of tens of thousands of perfectly trained individuals. At what other time or place and in relation to what other political, social, religious system, philosophy or ideology—did the world ever witness such a perfectly amazing phenomenon? Except of course, ISLAM, which was established as a complete way of life by Muhammad (pbuh)himself. History bears testimony to this fact and the greatest skeptics have no option but to concede this point.In spite of the phenomenal success which crowned his efforts, he did not for a moment claim to be God or God's incarnation or Son —but only a human being who was chosen and ordained by the Creator to be a teacher of truth to mankind and a complete model and pattern for their actions.He was a man with a noble and exalted mission —and his unique mission was to unite humanity in the worship of the One and only God and to teach them the way to honest and upright living in accordance with the laws and commands of God. He always described himself as a Messenger and servant of God, as indeed every single action and movement of his proclaimed him to be.A world which has not hesitated to raise to Divinity individuals whose very lives and missions have been lost in legend and who, historically speaking, did not accomplish half as much—or even one tenth—as was accomplished by Muhammad (pbuh), should stop to take serious note of this remarkable man's claim to be God's messenger to mankind.Today, after the lapse of some 1400 years, the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. Today they offer the same undying hope for treating mankind's many ills which they did when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was alive. This is our honest claim and this is the inescapable conclusion forced upon us by a critical and unbiased study of history.The least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true? Supposing they really are true, and you did not know this man Muhammad (pbuh) or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example? Is it not time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made some effort to know him? It will not cost you anything but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.

Come, let us make a new discovery, the life of this wonderful man Muhammad (pbuh), the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR life and OUR world for the better. May God shower His choicest blessings upon him!
Written by S. H. Pasha

http://muhammad.net/intro/must_Muhammad.html

A Response to “The Christian Response”

sobhanak — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:07:37 GMT

A Response to “The Christian Response”

To “The Common Word between You and Us”.

The main conflict between Islam and Christianity:

By: Salama Abdelhady, Ph.D.

Dear colleagues of Yale Center for Faith and Culture, thank you for your impressing reply to the 138 Muslim Scholars. However, as a response to your response and specifically to your claim of the conflicts between Islam and Christianity, I write this letter:

Islam and Christianity are two monotheistic religions for the guidance of people to worship Allah and to fear the day of resurrection. Muslims believe in Jesus(as a prophet) and that he was lifted alive. However, the source of all conflicts between both religions and even the source of all dogmas in Christianity is Jesus Crucifixion as a Way for Salvation.

Concerning this event, Muslims have a statement that contradicts the Christian’s statement. Muslim’s statement is in accordance to the following a verse in the Holy Quran:

And because of their saying (the Jews in boast) “We Killed Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah, but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but THE RESEMBLANCE OF JESUS WAS PUT OVER ANOTHER MAN, and they killed that man. Those who differ therein are full of DOUPTS. They have no certain knowledge, i.e. they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, as Word of Allah, they killed him not (Al-Nissa, 157)

So, according to this verse, the Christ was not the one who was crucified. But instead, a man who had been dressed his shape was crucified in his place.

Now let us discuss, as Muslims, the truth of this statement and the fuzziness of the contradicting statement.

1.As Muslims, we trust in the truth of every word of the Holy Quran, as a really revealed book from Allah to His prophet Mohamed through the spirit of Holiness, the Angel Gabriel. No word in this Quran has been seen to contradict all scientific discoveries. The nature of the earth as a sphere was stated in the Quran since more than 14 centuries in miraculous wording. There are hundreds of proofs. However, let us read verses (4-6) from a Surah in the Holy Quran (Surah Number 39) which states many scientific and logical facts: {4] Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased (some higher creations) out of those whom He doth create (not from human beings as weak and defected creatures): but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, and the Irresistible. [5] He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap spherically the Day, and the Day overlap spherically the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law) each one follows a course of motion for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power, He Who forgives again and again? 6] He created you (all) from a single Person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and He sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs (their designs): He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. Such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre of the straight path)?

2.The conclusions of meetings of 200 theologians, Liberal theologians investigating the life of Jesus, in their published document under the title “Jesus Seminar” is leading to expect a degree of fuzziness in the Bible’s statements. In addition, a published article concerning the trust of the Catholic Church in the Bible is increasing also such expectations: Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible", By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, timesonline. The Jehovah witnesses, a Christian church, assure that the Romans were not crucifying their victims.

3.Twoo Gospels only described the scene of Jesus Crucifixion and record his loud cry as follows: Eloi, Eloi, Lema sabachtani, (according to English Copies of the Bible), Eloi, Eloi, Lema asabtani (according to German copies of the Bible). As noted, both cries used a different slang than that of Jesus. It is near to the Arabic-Hebrew slang that was used by the residents of southern areas of Palestine in these times. Eloi or Elhij in Arabic-Hebrew means my God, as stated. Lema means also Why in Arabic-Hebrew as stated the written translations. But sabachtanic, according to English copy, does not mean forsaken me, but it means pigmented me. Sabcha (or sabgcha) means a pigment. Asabtani, according to the German copies, also doesn’t mean forsaken me, but it means hurt me or shock me. So, there is a doubt concerning the man on the Cross because he used different language than that of Jesus, he is blaming God to be pigmented (may be by another shape) or hurt in some way. Finally, he is crying loudly in a completely different manner than that of Jesus to declare that he is another pigmented man. So, this scene is evidence to the fuzziness of Jesus Crucifixion. Someone claim that this sentence is a part of the Psalms. However, it not found there. And can you imagine a crying man may sing a song.

4.There is no hint or comment in any of the four Gospels that the mission of Jesus had to do any thing with Jesus Crucifixion and the related dogmas as the Cross, the Salvation, the great sin, the Body of the church, the hypostases, the priesthood and its secrets and grades, the trinity or any of the added dogmas after the ascention of Jesus. However, as the core of Jesus Crucifixion was salvation and saving the people from their father’s sin, it would be expected a statement from Jesus to assure the noble objective of such mission. And if his mission was the Salvation by being cursed on the cross, according to Saint Paul, why was he crying and blaming His God on the cross? Absence of any hint in the four Gospels to the Crucifixion increases the fuzziness of these dogmas.

5.According to the Bible, the only one who commented Jesus Crucifixion and drew many dogmas concerning such event was Saint Paul. However, he stated a condition for accepting the power of the cross. This condition was found in 1 Corinthians 1, as follows: The Message of the Cross: 1:18 for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”²¹ So, the faith in a cross is foolishness unless the God would destroy wisdom and intelligence. However, Saint Paul claimed that it is written that God would destroy the wisdom and intelligence. But No one had found such writings in the Bible. It is hard also to believe that it may happen. It is written that the God is wise and he gifted such wisdom to selected people as Solomon, prophets, disciples and others too. As Saint Paul has a bad history before his claimed meeting with the God, he was not one of Jesus disciples and he was also the only one who glorifies the cross and gave great importance to the crucifixion after Jesus lift increase the fuzziness of the Christians statement.

6.According to Judas Gospel, the last found Gospel near Al-Menya, Egypt in 1975 and translated by the Geographic Society, in this Gospel, and near to its end, Jesus said to Judas, “Truly I say, But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me. , Already your horn has been raised, your wrath has been kindled, your star has shown brightly, and your heart has […]. [57]. Considering this sentence “THE MAN THAT CLOTHES ME’, It is in agreement with the previously mentioned verse in the Quran which tells that Jesus was not crucified but God made ANOTHER MAN TO RESEMBLE HIM. So, the man on the cross was not Jesus but he was Judas as a sacrifice to his trading of Jesus. This explains the difference in language of the man on the cross and that of Jesus. It also explains how Jesus visited his disciples in his manhood-nature and asked them to touch his body and ate with them just after Judas crucifixion. It also explains the disappearance of Judas after the crucifixion where it was claimed that he threw the silver coins and hanged himself. (Matthew:27:5 So⁷ Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself”. So such found Gospel and its offered explanations lead us to believe in the truth of the Muslims statement.

7.Starting from the Wisdom and Intelligence, let us find a wise answer to these questions: how the Wise Creator who create such magnificent universe and give it such wise order put his power to an idol as the cross? Why does he glorify this idol in such holy manner? How His Wisdom can adopt such idol and make it a sign for His salvation? I think as Saint Paul had stated, it is conditioned by destroying the wisdom and intelligence. As there is a remaining wisdom and intelligence in the world, the Christians statement is still a fuzzy one.

As Muslims, we offered the proof of the truth of our statement that Jesus was not crucified nor killed, but he was lifted alive, as the Quran stated. The Quran and Judas Gospel prove that there is another person, Judas, who was crucified instead after he was dressed by Jesus resemblance to look similar to him.

Jesus crucifixion and its related dogmas represent the main conflict between the Muslims and Christians. The absence of similar dogmas in Islam, make the Islam a religion of logic (or Fitra). In Islam we believe by the pure logic, as stated in the Quran, by the existence of One God, Allah. There is no priesthood in Islam, no secrets, no cross, no Saints nor Bishops and no Ghosts nor hypostases. Mohamed is a man ,who received a message from one God. The Quran is revealed to him and he behaved to be a model for any Moslem according to this Quran. It guides us to the mercy of God on earth and to a good eternal life after death if we obey its orders. They claim that we go to Kabba to kiss a holy stone. Such claim is incorrect since no one believes that this stone has any holiness or power. It is just a stone and we may kiss it as Mohamed did and to express our obedience. Our visit to Kabba is a visit to the first place in which the God was worshipped on the earth. It is placed in Paran desert where Abram worshipped God and obeyed Him and left there his wife, Hagar, and their son, Ishmael. Ishmael is the grandfather of Kadar and the prophet Mohamed. Ishmael also was sacrificed by a lamp in such Paran desert (Arafat Mountains) which is the place of Muslim’s pilgrimage.

As a summary, we have no dogmas in Islam. Bypassing the crucifixion as an introducing dogma to many other dogmas in Christianity, this will pave the straight path to the true Common Word between Us.

Note: Who is interested in reading more about the Common Word, is gently invited to join the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=7851691705

Cat Stevens

sobhanak — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:06:45 GMT

Cat Stevens

Surrounded by the fascinating world of wealth and fame, Cat Stevens started his life. He lived an affluent childhood with his Christian parents and Christianity was the only religion he was taught from the early beginning of his life.

As a Christian, Cat believed in the presence of God, but he was taught that there is no way to contact Him directly. It is only through Jesus (the Christ) that one can have and maintain such a link.

Cat, really, confesses that he was not completely convinced that this is the right belief, but he had to respect his father's teachings!

Moreover, he had doubts regarding the idea of trinity and it worried him a lot, but, he used to keep silent and did not argue. He believed partially in these ideas though his mind rejected them completely!

Bit by bit, he started to go away from his religious beliefs and directed all his attention to the world of music. He wanted to become a famous pop singer who possesses a huge wealth and devoted his life to achieve this aim. His new orientation, indeed, was part of a general one that spread widely in England and in Europe as a whole, where people sought their materialistic needs and ignored the spiritual aspects of this life. Also, viewing his uncle as his role model, with his huge wealth, encouraged him to go on this way to be as rich as he was.

He started to follow the world famous pop singers to know everything about their lives, learn how they achieved what he dreamt of and considered the best thing in life and accordingly attempt to be a copy of them and probably a more successful one.

Cat, amazingly, achieved this in a very short time. He introduced a lot of successful songs and started to have his own fans. He became the target of media coverage and mass media focused on his news so that it became familiar to see him, personally or through his photos, every now and then.

They made a legendary pop singer out of him through this intensified coverage and propaganda. Cat recalls that in spite of all of this, still, he had a humane sense inside him, as he felt sympathy towards the poor and tended to help them.

But, as a normal human being he was greedy and wanted to possess more and pay less! Also, as a normal human being he did not fulfill all his promises and thus usually he ignored the humane sense just mentioned above and went on his way to collect more money and achieve more success without thinking about anyone except himself!

To overcome the barriers of time and the limited humane capabilities, he used drugs and wine as a source of acquiring extraordinary power.

He indulged in the world of music and drugs and life went on with no change until he fell ill with tuberculosis and was taken to hospital.

There, Cat started a new phase in his life. He admits that it was the first time that he thought about the purpose of life. He wondered why he was stuck to bed like that and started to ask himself whether he was just a “body” and all what he should do in life is to gratify the desires of that body and make it as happy as possible...

Many questions aroused in his mind and he thought a lot about death. Thus, he got interested in the beliefs of south Asia as they gave him the spiritual dose he needed much at that time. Accordingly, his life style changed a lot. He spent a lot of time in meditation and became vegetarian in order to achieve spiritual highness and internal purity. The best thing that he acquired in this stage was, from Cat’s point of view, that he started behaving on a new basis and according to a deep belief that man is not a mere body. Man has a strong determination that should drive this body to the direction that he wants and not the opposite. He should not be driven by his body, its desires and needs.

In this stage, Cat got bored with Christianity. After his recovery, he introduced new songs which reflected his new orientation.

One of these songs was called “I wish”:

I wish I knew, I wish I knew

what makes me, me, and what makes you, you.

It's just another point of view, ooo.

A state of mind I'm going through, yes.

So what I see is never true, .

I wish I could tell, I wish I could tell

what makes a heaven what makes a hell.

And do I get to ring my bell, ooo.

Or land up in some dusty cell, no.

While others reach the big hotel, yeah.

I wish I had, I wish I had

the secret of good, and the secret of bad.

Why does this question drive me mad? Ahhh.

'Cause I was taught when but a lad, yes,

That bad was good and good was bad, ahhh.

I wish I knew the mystery of

that thing called hate, and that thing called love.

What makes the in-between so rough? ahhh.

Why is it always push and shove? ahhh

I guess I just don't know enough, yes.

Cat believed that Buddhism is so noble, but still, he liked his glittering life and was not ready to abandon his career and devote all his time to worship and meditation. Buddhism requires total isolation and would not suit the fame of a pop singer.....

Cat became more famous and successful than before and this caused him much trouble as he sought the truth and being in the spot light hindered his efforts to find it.

That was why Cat preferred not to embrace Buddhism and converted his attention at that time to horoscopes and numbers and other ideologies that never convinced him.

But fortunately, his brother traveled to Jerusalem where he was so impressed by Al-Aqsa mosque which was all the time crowded.

He found it different from churches and temples which are most of the time empty!! From Jerusalem, Cat’s brother brought him “Al-Aqsa” version of the Holy Quran. Although Cat’s brother did not embrace Islam, he felt that the Quran is unique and different and expected that it would help his brother find the truth he had been searching for since a long time.

Cat read the Quran and through its verses came to know the answers to all his perplexing questions. He knew a lot about Allah and why he created us. He realized that man is body and soul and that he can not ignore the needs of any of them. He found a practical religion that suits his life and does not order him to abandon people and live in isolated caves to become a devoted person! He knew that Islam means complete submission to Allah and His will. It means that there is no god but Allah and no mediators, only a direct life-long relation that one maintains with Allah and puts on the top of his priorities. He realized that Allah sent all His messengers for the same mission and with the same teachings of worshipping Him and abiding with His orders.

They were sent to guide human beings to the right path, but those who benefited from corruption fought against those honest messengers and their call. Moreover, these enemies distorted the previous holy books and turned the teachings upside down to cope with their interests. Allah sent Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to reveal the truth that had been deliberately hidden all that time and purify the true religion once again. Cat found that the Quran encourages man to look around him and think, to learn about the sun, the moon and all other natural phenomena. As this will help him believe in the presence of Allah and His incomparable might.

To sum up, Cat found the truth he had been seeking and felt as if the Quran had been sent especially for his sake!! At first, he did not reveal his new feelings, but deep inside him he became a Muslim person.

A year and a half after that incident, Cat wanted to announce his decision to embrace Islam. He met a Muslim woman who advised him to go to “new regent” mosque and there Cat met the (Imam) and uttered the testimony in front of him. Cat Stevens converted to “Yusuf Islam”, the new name he chose for himself after embracing Islam. He asserts that his decision was a direct result of studying Quran and that no body affected him. He wanted to have a direct relation with God and he did not find this in any other religion. He wanted a perfect belief and Islam is the only perfect religion. He says that if human beings abided by Islam’s orders and followed its teachings the whole world would change and would enjoy a better life. Now, Yusuf’s efforts are all for Allah’s sake and the call for His religion.Now, he has really found the best thing in life

Ethics in Islam (1)

sobhanak — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:44:50 GMT

Ethics in Islam (1)

By : Magdy Abd AL-shafy

Islam calls and in the guidance and commandments

It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and the Prophets;

Narated By Ibn 'Umar : Allah's Apostle said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle.

2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.

3. To pay Zakat. (i.e. obligatory charity)

4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)

5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. (olumn 001, Book 002, Hadith Number 007.)

2- the absolute obedience to God

. And if We had decreed for them : Lay down your lives or go forth from your dwellings, but few of them would have done it; though if they did what they are exhorted to do it would be better for them, and more strengthening; [3;66]

Allah the Almighty has laid down religious duties so don't neglect them ; has boundaries , so don't overstep them ; he has prohibited something , so do not violate them about something he was silent out of compassion for you , not forgetfulness seek not after them

(3) contemplation of Allah's creation

And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure. And (also) in yourselves. Can ye then not see?[51:20-21]

(4) the cognition that Allah is the only benefactor

And whatever of comfort ye enjoy, it is from Allah..[16:51]

(5) the giving of glad-tidings to those patiently preserve .

And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast, Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and Lo! unto Him we are returning. Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly guided. [2:155-157]

(6) putting complete trust on Allah:

If Allah is your helper none can overcome you, and if He withdraw His help from you, who is there who can help you? In Allah let believers put their trust.[3:160]

(7) The cognition that all future events are subject to the will of Allah "

And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow,…[18:23]

(8) Fulfilling the covenant of Allah

And say not of anything: Lo! I shall do that tomorrow .. Yet when He. gave them of His bounty, they boarded it and turned away, averse;. So He hath made the consequence (to be) hypocrisy in their hearts until the day when they shall meet Him, because they broke their word to Allah that they promised Him, and because they lied.[75-77]

[9] Respect of oath when sworn

and keep your oaths.[5:89]

[10] frequent remembrance of Allah

O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.

[11] Remembrance and glorification of Allah

O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.

. And glorify Him early and late.[33 :41-42]

[12] making the obligatory prayers

"For such prayers Are enjoined on believers as stated time [3:103]

On the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him ), who said that the messenger of Allah ( may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him )said : The first of his action of which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If they are in order , then he will have prospered and succeeded ; and if they are wanting , then he will have failed and lost . If there is something defective in his obligatory prayers , the Lord (glorified and exalted be He ) will say : see if my servant has any supererogatory prayers with which may be completed that which was defective in his obligatory prayers .Then the rest the rest of his action will be judged in like fashion .

[13] pilgrimage to House of Allah (at least once in a life time) for those who can afford it :

Lo! the first Sanctuary appointed for mankind was that at Mecca, a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples;

Wherein are plain memorials (of Allah's guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither. As for him who disbelieveth, (let him know that) Lo! Allah is Independent of (all) creatures.[3:96-97]

[14] Praying to Allah between fear and hope.

Say (O Muhammad, unto the disbelievers): My Lord would not concern himself with you but for your prayer. But now ye have denied (the Truth), therefore there will be judgment.[25:77}

Repentance to Allah and seeking His forgiveness .

[15 ] Love of Allah

. O ye who believe! Whoso of you becometh a renegade from his religion, (know that in his stead) Allah will bring a people whom He loveth and who love Him, humble toward believers, stern toward disbelievers, striving in the way of Allah and fearing not the blame of any blamer. Such is the grace of Allah which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing.[5:16]

On the Authority of Abu'Ibbas Sahl Ibn Sa'ad idi(may Allah be pleased with him )who said " Aman came to the prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) and said : O messenger of Allah , direct me to the act which , if I do it ,( will cause ) Allah to love me and people to love me . He said " renounce the world and Allah will love you and renounce what people possess and people will love you .

[16] repentance to Allah and seeking His forgiveness :

" And you believe! Turn ye all together towards Allah , that ye Allah May attain Bliss

[17] Love of Allah to transcend everything else :

Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only) Those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah, that those who do evil had but known, (on the day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment![2:165]

Islam prohibits "

(1) Despairing of Allah's mercy

" Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk "[12:87]

(2) Responding in kind to the blaspheme and insults of polytheists

Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do.

(3) No social intercourse with those who engage in vain discourse about the signs of Allah

And when thou seest those who meddle with Our revelations, withdraw from them until they meddle with another topic. And if the devil cause thee to forget, sit not, after the remembrance, with the congregation of wrong doers.[6:68]

(4) Excessive oath taking in the name of Allah :

And make not Allah, by your oaths, a hindrance to your being righteous and observing your duty unto Him and making peace among mankind. Allah is Nearer, Knower.

Personal Ethical Conduct

Islam calls for :

(1)the necessity of obtaining factual –information .

" If ye realize this not ask of those who possess Message

(2)Striving for purification of the soul .

" And those who strive I our cause , we will certainly guide them [29:69]

(3)Equality in punishment ( punity)

O people , those before you had gone astray , for if someone notable stole , they let him go , and if a poor man did , they penalize him . By Allah , if Fatma ,Mohummed's daughter stole , Mohummed would most assuredly cut off her hand "

(4)knowledge of the rules of Ethics and Behaviour

. O ye who believe! Enter not houses other than your own without first announcing your presence and invoking peace upon the folk thereof. That is better for you, that ye may be heedful.[24:27]

(5) Listening attent8ively and following instructions

And those who put away false gods lest they should worship them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them there are glad tidings. Therefor give good tidings (O Muhammad) to my bondmen.Who hear advice and follow the best thereof. Such are those whom Allah guideth, and such are men of understanding.[39:17-18]

[6] inculcating obedience in one's children :

" tell the boy to pray when he reaches the age of seven ; when he becomes ten years old , beat him if he does not "

(7) Righteousness :

Say (unto them O Muhammad): I am only a mortal like you. It is inspired in me that your God is One God, there for take the straight path unto Him and seek forgiveness of Him. And woe unto the idolaters, [41:6]

On the authority of Abu Amr –and he is also given as Abu Amra –Sufyan ibn AbdAllah " may Allah bew pleased with him " , who said " I said Omessanger of Allah , tell me something about Islam which I can Ask of no one but you .He said : say : I believe in Allah –and thereaftwer Be upright . It was related by Moslem

(8) repentance

And O ye believers , Turn ye all together towads Allah , that ye May attain Bliss (24:31)

Purity of the soul .

(9) purity of Soul

And a soul and Him who perfected it. And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.. He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow.

On the authority of Abu Masuad Uqba Ibn Amr AL-Anasari al-Badri (May Allah be pleased with him ) who said : The messenger of Allah said " Among the words obtained from the forst prophecy are : if you feel no shame , then do as you wish . It was related by al-Bukhari

(10) Co-operation in doing good

And let not your hatred of a folk who (once) stopped your going to the Inviolable Place of Worship seduce you to transgress; but help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression, but keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is severe in punishment.[5:2]

[11] Amiability and humility

Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! in harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass.[31:19]

[12] unanimity around lofty ideals

And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate. And remember Allah's favor unto you: how ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace; and (how) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save you from it. Thus Allah maketh clear His revelations unto you, that haply ye may be guided,

[13] Calling for God with wisdom and effective preaching .

Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. Lo! thy Lord is best aware of him who strayeth from His way, and He is Best Aware of those who go aright. [16:125]

(14) Moderation in attire , eating and drinking

O Children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals.

(15) Chastity

" And who guard their modesty, Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy.."[23:5-6]

(16) Being moderate in financial matters

And those who, when they spend, are neither prodigal nor grudging; and there is ever a firm station between the two [25:67]

(17) humility and politeness in speech

Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! in harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass. [31:19]

(18) the acts of Moslems to conform his words

O ye who believe! why say ye that which ye do not?

It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.[61:2-3]

(19) quest of science from scholars.

. And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not![16:43]

(20) Providing a good example for others

. Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much. [33:21]

(21) Patience

Endure thou patiently (O Muhammad). Thine endurance is only by (the help of) Allah. Grieve not for them, and be not in distress because of that which they devise.

(22) Obedience to the prophet and his teachings

Whoso obeyeth the messenger obeyeth Allah, and whoso turneth away: We have not sent thee as a warder over them. [4:80]

(23)Putting complete trust in Allah but guarding against indifference

" Hobble and trust in Alllah "

(24) Having true faith

The commandment of Allah will come to pass, so seek not ye to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate (with Him).[16:91]

(25) Justice and good works

Lo! Allah enjoineth justice and kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed.[61:90]

(26) feeling of the amity and the brotherhood of man

O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made `you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him that the messenger of Allah said "let him who believes in Allah and the last Day either speak good or keep silent , and let him who believes in Allah and the last Day be generous to his guest "

(27)the effective use of our faculties :

He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow,

And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it.[91:9-10]

(28) Obedience to Allah , His messenger and those in authority :

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.[4;59]

That which Allah giveth as spoil unto His messenger from the people of the townships, it is for Allah and His messenger and for the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, that it become not a commodity between the rich among you. And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal.[59:7)

(29) Practicing what one preaches

Enjoin ye righteousness upon mankind while ye yourselves forget (to practise it)? And ye are readers of the Scripture! Have ye then no sense?[2:44]

(30) No coercion in religion

And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers?[10:99]

(31) work within the limits of one's capacities

Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved. Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget, or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, Thou, our Protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. (2:286)

(32) Love of Allah

"Love Allah for the blessings He bestows upon you " prophet's honoured dictum related in Turmzy

(33) Spending what is beyond some one's need

And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: That which is superfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect.

(34) Justice when judging between two adversaries

" Two Judges in hell and one in heaven . The one in heaven is the one who recognized truth and acted upon it and the one in hell is a manw ho judged people unknowingly and another one who knew the truth and acted contrary to it "

" prophet's honoured dictum related in Turmzy

Also God says in this concern what means

" Between man and man , that ye judge with justice"[3:58]

(35) Signs of faith

If m pained by an evil deed you committed ,or happy over a good one you did , then you are believer " prophet's honoured dictum related in Turmzy

(36)Being virtuous towards oneself

Enjoin ye righteousness upon mankind while ye yourselves forget (to practise it)? And ye are readers of the Scripture! Have ye then no sense?

On the authority of An-Nawas Ibn –Nawas ibs Sam'an (may Allah be pleased with him ) that the prophet ( may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said " Righteousness is good normality , and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul and which you dislike people finding out about "

On the authority of Wabsa ibn Ma'ad ( may Allah be pleased with him ) .who said : I cam to the messenger of Allah ( may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) and he said " you came to ask about righteousness ? I said :yes, he said consult your heart . Righteousness is that about which the soul feel tranquil and wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul and moves to and fro in the breast even though people again and again has given you their legal opinion in its favour "

(37)Being virtuous towards relatives

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.[3:135]

(38)making things easy for people

Allah would make the burden light for you, for man was created weak. [3: 28]

(39)Remembrance of Allah

Except if Allah will. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say: It may be that my Lord guideth me unto a nearer way of truth than this.

On the authority of Abu 'Abbas " Abdullah the son of 'Abbas ( may Allah be pleased with them both ) who said : one day I was behind the prophet who said to me " Young man ! I shall teach you some words (of advice ) : Be mindful of Allah , and Allah will protect you . Be mindful of Allah , and Allah and you will find him in front of you . If you ask , ask Allah . Know that if the nation were gather together to benefit you with any thing , it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you , and that if they gather together to harm you with anything , they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you . The pen had been lifted and the pages have dried.

It was narrated by at-Tirmidhi , who said it was good and sound Hadith . In a version other than that of at-Tirmidhi it reads :

Be mindful of Allah , you will find ….

(40)The removal with evil deeds with charitable ones

Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful. (11:114)

On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundib ibn junda and Abu Abd –Alrhman Mu'dh ibn Jabal ( may Allah ne pleased with them both ) , that the messenger of Allah ( may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said

" Fear Allah wherever you are , and follow up bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out , and behave will towards people .

(41)Allah honoured His apostle and Muslims who asked for pardon :

But Allah would not punish them while thou wast with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness.(8:31)

(42) Having confidence in Allah's mercy

" Despair not of the mercy Of Allah for Allah forgives all sins , for He is Oft-forgiving , Most Merciful

The early companions of the prophet

sobhanak — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:42:55 GMT

The early companions of the prophet

By : Magdy Abd Al-Shafy Abd Al-Gawad

It is only when hearts are enlightened by the light of the true faith that they begin to bear all the hardships of life and sacrifice all the allurements of this transitory life and begin to find sweetness in pains and hardships . Here is the story of an early companion of the prophet the reflects all these meanings

Musab ibn Umayr , was born to a very rich family and brought in the lab of affluence,He wore the most expensive clothes . He was a handsome guy , all the people there admired him for his intelligence and keen mind . Although still young, he had the privilege of attending Quraysh meetings and gatherings. He was thus in a position to know the issues which concerned the Makkans and what their attitudes and strategies were.

On the advent of prophet Mohummed , rumors went every where .This prophet provoked the idolaters . Prophet Mohummed used to warn people asking them to leave the idols and worship God . In the beginning, very a few accepted and the majority rejected and even those idolaters put to torture whoever think to believe ,He warned the Quraysh of terrible chastisement if they did not turn to the worship and obedience of God and he spoke of Divine rewards for the righteous. The whole of Makkah buzzed with talk of these claims.

So many machination were weaved against the prophet , the prophet was ridiculed and when this failed they began to persuade him of leaving the call to Allah in exchange for authority ,money and whatever he wished. the prophet scotched all their attempts by saying to his uncle that he wouldn't leave his call to Allah even if they put the sun on his right hand and the moon on his left hand.so ,they embarked on a campaign of harassment and persecution.

Musab, the intelligent man ,thought "what did the man have for which he refused all the wealth offered to him ?"

Whatever on earth could make the man bear toils and pains ?

It was a decisive point in his life , a swift turning point and whatever you could say when he made his way to the place where the prophet and his companions worshipped Allah . What brought him to this place ? the man has a heart that has been in search for the truth . So many people indulge themselves in the allurement of this ephemeral life without racking their minds to think about the vociferous call of their nature. Unmindful of the risks of the road , he went where the prophet and his companion recited the Holy Quran

Let the history , the best witness, tells us .

So face to face ,stood the searcher for the truth before the man who was entitled by the heaven to carry the truth ,the hands stretched to touch each other , it wasn't the hand of Mosusab that was touched , it was his heart . So face to face . he stood before people , already put to torture , already left everything only to quench the thirst for the Absolute Truth . On listening to the Holy verses of the Quran, all the chemistry and physics in the man's body changed at once.

On accepting Islam Musab had one major concern , it is his mother.. She was a woman of extraordinary power. She had a dominant personality and could easily arouse fear and terror. When Musab became a Muslim, the only power on earth he might have feared was his mother. All the powerful nobles of Makkah and their attachment to pagan customs and traditions were of little consequence to him. Having his mother as an opponent, however, could not be taken lightly.

He continued to frequent the House of al-Arqam , the first Islamic university where the first Moslems used to frequent secretly to learn the new religion . Nothing in the world even his companionship and sitting to mother could bring Mpuseb serene and tranquility as sitting to the prophet .

It was difficult during those days to keep anything secret in Makkah for long. The eyes and ears of the Quraysh were on every road. Behind every footstep imprinted in the soft and burning sand was a Quraysh informer. Before long, Musab was seen as he quietly entered the House of al-Arqam, by someone called Uthman ibn Talhah.

As winds in a storm, the devastating news of Musab's acceptance of Islam spread among the Quraysh and eventually reached his mother.

His mother was shocked at this news and his clan's wrath went beyond every limit .

He kept himself steady before them but even recited some verses of the holy Quran for nothing but to guide them to the light they had never seen before , they were verses that cleaned the hearts that once in the quagmire of infidelity.Yet out arrogance and stubbornness they refused to accept the light and so began another stage in the man's life .

As Musab's mother listened to her son on whom she had lavished so much care and affection, she became increasingly incensed. She felt like silencing him with one terrible blow. But the hand which shot out like an arrow staggered and faltered before the light which radiated from Musab's serene face. Perhaps, it was her mother's love which restrained her from actually beating him, but still she felt she had to do something to avenge the gods which her son had forsaken. The solution she decided upon was far worse for Musab than a few blows could ever have been. She had Musab taken to a far corner of the house. There he was firmly bound and tethered. He had become a prisoner in his own home.

For a long time, Musab remained tied and confined under the watchful eyes of guards whom his mother had placed over him to prevent him from any further contact with Muhammad and his faith. Despite his ordeal, Musab did not waver.

What could imprisonment bring to him , nothing could now harm him , the good food that he used to eat was substituted with another , the servants who used to be at his disposal became his masters in the prison ,the man who used to ride his horse and swagger in the streets no longer able to walk in his suffocating cell . what could they do him , his paradise is in his heart .

His real freedom was in his heart , He remained steady but he missed his companions , his missed doing the prayer . So , on hearing that some Moslem received order from the prophet to emigrate where they could worship God freely and to where they could survive torture and death , he decided to escape . Eventually he heard that a group of Muslims were preparing secretly to migrate to Abyssinia to seek refuge and relief.

They spent some years there worshipping God , but nothing sadden their hearts but the worry about their prophet , how much they aspired to his companionship but they had to wait as death and torture are lying in ambush there in Mekka .So when a report reached Abyssinia that the conditions of the Muslims in Makkah had improved, Musab was among the first to return to Makkah. The report was in fact false and Musab once again left for Abyssinia

With all this bad treatment , he remained loyal to his mother . Why not , he learnt well the lesson of maintaining good relations with his relatives even if they were unkind to him , he knows well the holy verse "And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear The command), Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): In the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.

When Musab returned to Makkah again, his mother made a last attempt to gain control of him and threatened to have him tied up again and confined. Musab swore that if she were to do that, he would kill everyone who helped her. She knew very well that he would carry out this threat for she saw the iron determination he had.

Separation was inevitable. When the moment came, it was sad for both mother and son but it revealed a strong Persistence in kufr on the part of the mother and an even greater persistence in iman on the part of the son. As she threw him out of her house and cut him off from all the material comforts she used to lavish on him, she said:"Go to your own business. I am not prepared to be a mother to you."

How much sadness is that he felt on leaving her without converting her , it was not important for him the comfort he used to , he knew well that nothing awaiting but hunger and poverty.

Musab went up close to her and said: "Mother, I advise you sincerely. I am concerned about you, do testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger."

But the woman followed the dark path ,Musab thus left her home and the luxury and comforts he used to enjoy. The elegant, well-dressed youth would henceforth be seen only in the coarsest of attire. He now had more important concerns. He was determined to use his talents and energies in acquiring knowledge and in serving God and His Prophet.

One day, several years later, Musab came upon a gathering of Muslims sitting around the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace. They bowed their heads and lowered their gaze when they saw Musab, and some were even moved to tears. This was because his jalbab was old and in tatters and they were immediately taken back to the days before his acceptance of Islam when he was a model of sartorial elegance. The Prophet looked at Musab, smiled gracefully and said: "I have seen this Musab with his parents in Makkah. They lavished care and attention on him and gave him all comforts. There was no Quraysh youth like him. Then he left all that seeking the pleasure of God and devoting himself to the service of His Prophet.

After about ten years of inviting people to Islam, most of Makkah still remained hostile. The noble Prophet then went to Taif seeking new adherents to the faith. He was repulsed and chased out of the city. The future of Islam looked bleak.

It was just after this that the Prophet chose Musab to be his "ambassador" to Yathrib to teach a small group of believers who had come to pledge allegiance to Islam and prepare Madinah for the day of the great Hijrah. It was his intelligence and ability to recite Quran beautifully and movingly that qualified him to this mission . Moreover and even more , his deep desire to take the lost people to their Creator , nothing could ail his soul more than sighting many people , all the humanity , worshipping and ascribing others with God, it was his infinite love to his Lord that moved him ....why not ...he saw the generous prophet standing in streets of Mekka ,when he was let down by the people , calling people ...saying in a moving voice so filled with tear " who can carry me ( on his camel) to the tribes of so and so , who can carry me to the tribes of so and so ( naming each tribes )

Musab understood his mission well. He knew that he was on a sacred mission to invite people to God and the straight path of Islam and to prepare what was to be the territorial base for the young and struggling Muslim community.

He entered Madinah as a guest of Sad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went to people, to their homes and their gatherings, telling them about the Prophet, explaining Islam to them and reciting the Quran. Through the grace of God, many accepted Islam. This was especially pleasing to Musab but profoundly alarming to many leaders of Yathribite society.

In his call to Allah , he applied the Holy Quran when calling people to Islam " Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance.

The following situation will show us the effect of applying this verse in calling to Allah ; Once Musab and Sad were sitting near a well in an orchard of the Zafar clan. With them were a number of new Muslims and others who were interested in Islam. A powerful notable of the city, Usayd ibn Khudayr, came up brandishing a spear. He was livid with rage. Sad ibn Zararah saw him and told Musab: "This is a chieftain of his people. May God place truth in his heart." "If he sits down, I will speak to him," replied Musab,

Like the media in the west , the idolaters sent rumors everywhere concerning Islam , The angry Usayd , being affected so much by these rumors , shouted abuse and threatened Musab and his host. "Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive." Musab smiled a warm and friendly smile and said to Usayd: "Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it and if you dislike it we would stop telling you what you dislike and leave."

"That's reasonable," said Usayd and, sticking his spear in the ground, sat down. Musab was not compelling him to do anything. He was not denouncing him. He was merely inviting him to listen. If he was satisfied, well and good. If not, then Musab would leave his district and his clan without any fuss and go to another district.

Musab began telling him about Islam and recited the Quran to him. Even before Usayd spoke, it was clear from his face, now radiant and expectant, that faith had entered his heart. Here the Holy Quran verses found their way to the man's heart , sometimes these words works miracles in the heart that used to be deaf , sometimes they works miracles at hearts of stones , but what we are sure of is that it is only when you are unbiased that these words can affect , the worst thing is to listen to the Holy Quran words with arrogance , as nothing brings God's wrath as arrogance, it was the first sin committed when Satan , out of arrogance , refused to obey God when He ordered him to prostrate himself to Adam. Now let's see the reaction of the man that was only few minutes unbeliever .

He said: "How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?"

"Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (Shahadah), and perform Salat. Usayd left the gathering and was absent for only a short while. He returned and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He then prayed two rakats and said:

"After me, there is a man who if he follows you, everyone of his people will follow him. I shall send him to you now. He is 'Sad ibn Muadh."

Sad ibn Muadh came and listened to Musab. He was convinced and satisfied and declared his submission to God. He was followed by another important Yathribite, Sad ibn Ubadah. Before long, the people of Yathrib were all in a flurry, asking one another.

"If Usayd ibn Khudayr, Sad ibn Muadh and Sad ibn Ubadah have accepted the new religion, how can we not follow? Let's go to Musab and believe with him. They say that truth emanates from his lips."

To those who commit follies against Islam thinking that they represent Islam we say , learn and teach this lesson . how many people followed Islam because Musab carried out the Holy Quran methodology in calling to Allah .

The first ambassador of the Prophet, peace be on him, was thus supremely successful. The Prophet had chosen well. Men and women, the young and the old, the powerful and the weak accepted Islam at his hands. The course of Yathribite history had been changed forever. The way was being prepared for the great Hijrah. Yathrib was soon to become the center and the base for the Islamic state.

Islam built inside the human psyche what can not be imagined , it creates a kind of brotherhood completely different from that we know . The following momentous situation will show us how Musab understood the meaning of brotherhood in Allah .

After the battle of Bader was over, the Quraysh prisoners of war were brought to the Prophet who assigned them to the custody of individual Muslims. "Treat them well," he instructed.

Among the prisoners was Abu Aziz ibn Umayr, the brother of Musab. Abu Aziz related what happened: "I was among a group of Ansar...Whenever they had lunch or dinner they would give me bread and dates to eat in obedience to the Prophet's instructions to them to treat us well.

"My brother, Musab ibn Umayr, passed by me and said to the man from the Ansar who was holding me prisoner:

'Tie him firmly... His mother is a woman of great wealth and maybe she would ransom him for you.'" Abu Aziz could not believe his ears. Astonished, he turned to Musab and asked: "My brother, is this your instruction concerning me?" "He is my brother, not you," replied Musab thus affirming that in the battle between iman and kufr, the bonds of faith were stronger than the ties of kinship.

At the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet called upon Musab, now well-known as Musab al-Khayr (the Good), to carry the Muslim standard. At the beginning of the battle, the Muslims seemed to be gaining the upper hand. A group of Muslims then went against the orders of the Prophet and deserted their positions. The mushrikin forces rallied again and launched a counterattack. Their main objective, as they cut through the Muslim forces, was to get to the noble Prophet.

Musab realized the great danger facing the Prophet. He raised the standard high and shouted the takbir. With the standard in one hand and his sword in the other, he plunged into the Quraysh forces. The odds were against him. A Quraysh horseman moved in close and severed his right hand. Musab was heard to repeat the words:

"Muhammad is only a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him," showing that however great his attachment was to the Prophet himself, his struggle above all was for the sake of God and for making His word supreme. His left hand was then severed also and as he held the standard between the stumps of his arms, to console himself he repeated: "Muhammad is only a Messenger of God. Messengers have passed away before him." Musab was then hit by a spear. He fell and the standard fell. The words he repeated, every time he was struck were later revealed to the Prophet and completed, and became part of the Quran.

After the battle, the Prophet and his companions went through the battlefield, bidding farewell to the martyrs. When they came to Musab's body, tears flowed. Khabbah related that they could not find any cloth with which to shroud Musab's body, except his own garment. When they covered his head with it, his legs showed and when his legs were covered, his head was exposed and the Prophet instructed:

"Place the garment over his head and cover his feet and legs with the leaves of the idhkhir (rue) plant."

The Prophet felt deep pain and sorrow at the number of his companions who were killed at the Battle of Uhud. These included his uncle Hamzah ,whose body was horribly mutilated. But it was over the body of Musab that the Prophet stood, with great emotion. He remembered Musab as he first saw him in Makkah, stylish and elegant, and then looked at the short burdah which was now the only garment he possessed and he recited the verse of the Quran:

"Among the believers are men who have been true to what they have pledged to God."

The Prophet then cast his tender eyes over the battle field on which lay the dead companions of Musab and said: "The Messenger of God testifies that you are martyrs in the sight of God on the day of Qiyamah."

Then turning to the living companions around him he said: "O People! Visit them, send peace on them for, by Him in whose hand is my soul, any Muslim who sends peace on them until the day of Qiyamah, they would return the salutation of peace."