Man was created pure and was endowed with the knowledge that there is a Creator. This Creator is the one who taught man the nature of all things. Man knows and always knew that life was we know it is temporary and that the real life will be after this life. While atheist will have us believe differently, that discussion we will leave for another time. The three Abrahamic religions are all in agreement that Adam (peace be upon him) was the first human being. There is a difference of understanding to what happened next – that too we can discuss further another time. I would like to rather elaborate on two aspects which resulted in man, Adam and his wife, Eve, being evicted from “paradise”. All creation was created for no other purpose but to worship their Lord and Created, Allaah. Two creations though were granted an ability not given to others, viz the ability to sin, to be disobedient and to act on the differentiation of good and evil,viz man and jinn(i)/genie. So the Almighty Allaah creates man, Adam – peace be upon him. He teaches him the nature of all things. He calls the angels and asks them the names of these things. They cannot answer simply because they were not taught it. Allaah Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, lets Adam tell them. Then he commands the angels present to prostrate before Adam. Amongst them were jinni (genie) One such jinn was Iblees who refused and was haughty. Aah .. he felt superior. So this attribute/characteristic is not one of subservience and obedience but rather is one such that the being, with the feeling of superiority, will do much to protect this superiority. This being will sin and challenge even his Creator. So this lack of superiority is then transformed into that evil called envy. Wikipedia: Envy (also called invidiousness) is best defined as an emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's (perceived) superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it." Iblees, shaytaan, satan – is given a reprieve till the end (the day of Judgment) during which time he vows to mislead humans. Thus, it is evident that this trait called envy, is a trait of Satan. He is the one, with his cohorts. He toys with man and offers his services whereby he can do things which may seem nigh impossible and which will seemingly elevate the person using his services. He dupes this person to believe that he, satan, has knowledge beyond the realm of possibility (something simply called the “unseen”). So man falls for it and removes himself from the obedience of Allaah, his creator. He, man, now is so confused that he believes evil is good and mocks the real good. He slanders, maligns and uses the deception that satan taught him, to break what is good. He drives families apart through this deception, lies upon lies, and backbiting. We find this too often that in some communities people pay lots of money for their involvement in this. These evils range from anything from fortune-telling to séance to witchcraft. Satan is evil and he trains his “users” well. They really being high on him. They are masters at deception and for most hard to detect. They lie so well that even the listener may be duped into believing it’s the truth. So this arrangement between man and the evil one, satan, is such that the man believes he is in control, when in fact satan cannot be controlled by man.. at best he can be repelled. These devious people in turn manipulate events and situations such that innocent parties are impacted.
Pride, Superiority and envy are three most dangerous characteristics. We often hear and see these acts of deception in spy sagas. These acts of deception are also often prevalent in personal situations. O you who believe! If a Fasiq (liar — evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done. Quran 49:6 O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting)[] . And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2). Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware. Quran 49:12-13 Devious people destroy families and friendships and care not for their own lives are in a mess (and then even that they don’t understand). Their joy is in their evil and seeing others fight and suffer. But truth will always surface and trust is always superior. These people may see truth in their lives and still not understand But, no doubt, on that great day, the day of accountability and reckoning, the truth will be apparent for all to see. May the Almighty protect from such evil. |
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Pride and deception
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Thoughts
My thoughts are mine, it’s who I am, it’s me and It’s all I have – a wise man recently told me.
That certainly holds true even in the face of confusion, accusations and manipulation. How one reacts is certainly a rather good indication of one’s strength (or otherwise) of character.
This world is filled with a level of negativity that even so-called positive people don’t realize when their comments are having the wrong, the negative impact on people. Sometimes people’s humour may be too extreme. This is often prevalent where profanity is used even seemingly innocently. Another time is when people mock others and claim a right to this for various reasons from the person being mocked is a public person or “no harm” is intended. Yet, the mind absorbs much and unless you have a super filter, those negative, immoral thoughts sit right there. These thoughts become the seed for a character building. What can one do with these thoughts; nothing but the continuation of more mockery or further ill-thoughts of others. This is where society is at large; a really disheartening thought.
So lets turn it positive. Share a thought a day in how you can and are making a difference in someone’s life. Be enquiring, without being nosy, as to the well-being of your family members, neighbours, colleagues, the “Argus” boy, etc.
We live in a so-called rainbow nation but we know little of each other. This leads us to comment on issues without understanding. So let us learn from each other and build a community.
Reach out and build. Build something positive for we will be party to the ruins of ourselves if we don’t build something real.
Make your thought count for something good!!!
#abutameem
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Burn the Quran? rather accept its teachings
Islam and Muslims have been renewed targets with the excuse to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq, the banning of the burqa and now the burning of the Quran. Alhamdulillah - Praise be to God Almighty, Allaah, as He would have it that Christians (and other non-Muslims) are doing a great job in converting people to Islam. For indeed the truth must be and will be victorious and so, in trying to villify Islam and Muslims, the truth has reached many people. People are entering Islam in their droves - having been made aware of the religion of the great prophets such as Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus (peace be upon them all)
Here are some clips of people who have accepted the True Religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOuQDHKsyX4&feature=related
...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8EOvBIYQA&feature=related
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCzqRV6n1f8&feature=grec_browse
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-gYMtYeAdE&feature=grec_browse
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khjtrIkYU5I&feature=more_related
Here are some clips of people who have accepted the True Religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOuQDHKsyX4&feature=related
...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l8EOvBIYQA&feature=related
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCzqRV6n1f8&feature=grec_browse
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-gYMtYeAdE&feature=grec_browse
....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khjtrIkYU5I&feature=more_related
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Honour the Miracle
Honour the Miracle
Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam)." Quran 2:136
Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between” Quran 17:110
The Quran was revealed as an oral text. Thus from day 1 that Quran was revealed upon man and over the ages, the Quran was firmly entrenched in the hearts of men and women who have memorized every letter of the glorious book.
Quran was revealed upon a nation who excelled in language and eloquence at the time. These people too memorized poetry as the order of the day. So while this revelation, being the word of the Creator, the Almighty, was easily memorized, yet the sheer language of the Quran was overwhelming to these people.
And when people did not accept it as the word of Allaah, and tried to imitate its message and wording, the Almighty challenged them (and the challenge still stands) to produce even a chapter like Quran. The eloquence of Quran and its message is in itself proof of it being the words and revelation of a superior being.
The Quran was revealed an Arabic Quran and thus, while a translation helps a non-arabic speaking person to get some understanding of Quran, the power and essence of Quran remains in the rich Arabic language.
The Almighty sent Prophets over time to specific people/nations and for specific reasons, yet Quran is for all time. It’s a living miracle. As for the miracles of previous Prophets, these were for that instant in time and remains in history. Yet, the miracle of Quran, if for no other reason, is the only book memorized from cover to cover by millions of people all over the world, both Arabic and non-arabic speaking people.
In it, in Quran one finds the essence of the power, the wisdom, the eloquence, the knowledge of Allaah.
Currently, it is the month of Ramadan for Muslims. It is also the month in which the Quran was revealed. It is for this reason that Muslim are required to fast between pre-dawn and sunset for a period of 29-30days. So we fast to honour Quran and show gratitude to our Creator for this mercy. The mercy of the Almighty was beyond even our imagination, but it is important to love Him even when we sometimes don’t understand.
From Allaah we come and to Him we will return.
Ta-Ha
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1. Ta - Ha [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.]
2. We have not sent down the Qur'ân unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress,
3. But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allâh).
4. A revelation from Him (Allâh) Who has created the earth and high heavens.
5. The Most Gracious (Allâh) rose over (Istawâ) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).
6. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil.
7. And if you (O Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden.
8. Allâh! Lâ ilâhla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names[]
Quran 20: 1-8
Say ye: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam)." Quran 2:136
Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between” Quran 17:110
The Quran was revealed as an oral text. Thus from day 1 that Quran was revealed upon man and over the ages, the Quran was firmly entrenched in the hearts of men and women who have memorized every letter of the glorious book.
Quran was revealed upon a nation who excelled in language and eloquence at the time. These people too memorized poetry as the order of the day. So while this revelation, being the word of the Creator, the Almighty, was easily memorized, yet the sheer language of the Quran was overwhelming to these people.
And when people did not accept it as the word of Allaah, and tried to imitate its message and wording, the Almighty challenged them (and the challenge still stands) to produce even a chapter like Quran. The eloquence of Quran and its message is in itself proof of it being the words and revelation of a superior being.
The Quran was revealed an Arabic Quran and thus, while a translation helps a non-arabic speaking person to get some understanding of Quran, the power and essence of Quran remains in the rich Arabic language.
The Almighty sent Prophets over time to specific people/nations and for specific reasons, yet Quran is for all time. It’s a living miracle. As for the miracles of previous Prophets, these were for that instant in time and remains in history. Yet, the miracle of Quran, if for no other reason, is the only book memorized from cover to cover by millions of people all over the world, both Arabic and non-arabic speaking people.
In it, in Quran one finds the essence of the power, the wisdom, the eloquence, the knowledge of Allaah.
Currently, it is the month of Ramadan for Muslims. It is also the month in which the Quran was revealed. It is for this reason that Muslim are required to fast between pre-dawn and sunset for a period of 29-30days. So we fast to honour Quran and show gratitude to our Creator for this mercy. The mercy of the Almighty was beyond even our imagination, but it is important to love Him even when we sometimes don’t understand.
From Allaah we come and to Him we will return.
Ta-Ha
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1. Ta - Ha [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.]
2. We have not sent down the Qur'ân unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress,
3. But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allâh).
4. A revelation from Him (Allâh) Who has created the earth and high heavens.
5. The Most Gracious (Allâh) rose over (Istawâ) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).
6. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil.
7. And if you (O Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden.
8. Allâh! Lâ ilâhla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names[]
Quran 20: 1-8
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Allah will guide
Allah will guide
Verily the religion (rather "way of life")by Allah is Islam.
Islam is the religion of Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all). They taught the worship of the One True God - Allah
see link of Priest's reversion to Islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fngpSQzvsUM&NR=1
This is but the tip of the iceberg... Those who study Islam will no doubt know its truth.
Verily the religion (rather "way of life")by Allah is Islam.
Islam is the religion of Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all). They taught the worship of the One True God - Allah
see link of Priest's reversion to Islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fngpSQzvsUM&NR=1
This is but the tip of the iceberg... Those who study Islam will no doubt know its truth.
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