Rationality & Revelation:
The continued Search for Meaning.
This argument continues on from "the Perfection of Faith". In that I concentrated on the words of RasulAllah (saw), that he said on several occasions over the Farewell Pilgrimage, "Those that are present relay the message (of what I have said) to those that are absent, perchance they may better understand it."
(http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=202238659&blogID=334457745&Mytoken=4064C4C2-C238-49A3-872A5A25A4A17F8718631711: the Perfection of Faith and the Search for Meaning (a previous blog)).
I believe that these words are pivotal for how we should approach that Message (the Wahiy and the Hikmah).
Classically it is argued that RasulAllah's (saw) life (his words and his deeds) are sufficient explanation for the message contained in the Qur'an. And rightly so, however does not the life of RasulAllah (saw) itself require an understanding?
In our daily lives we continually weigh arguments, opportunities, threats and a myriad of other things using the rules of rationality. And it is Rationality that asks of us disinterestedness, objectivity and the indiscriminate application of rules of thought.
When we translate this into the language of religion, is this not "Thou shalt not lie"? And as Muslims are we not to be continually aware of the hazards of hypocrisy, whose cornerstone is deception? And even more, self-deception?
When you observe the behaviour, or thought patterns, of those who strive not for objectivity and most especially of those who do not apply the same rules of thought to others as they do for themselves, then the descriptions contained in S. Baqara become clear. Such people loose the ability for self examination and reflection, and believe that the good is only for and from them. And they become blind to the realities of this world and loose their objectivity.
And so when we try to understand the religion, the book and the hikmah (which is the wisdom of how RasulAllah (saw) understood it), why should we not apply the rules of rationality?
At it's most basic it is a method that lends coherence, a means of interpretation and clarification that can help us in the application of all that has come down to us.
And so it is that Rationality is but a tool with which we might better understand. And the foremost way it can do this is by relating what we know of our lives with what we can come to know through the study of the most abundant of lives.
The life of Muhammad (saw), proof of God (most high), who forever will be blessed.
All glory and praises belong to Allah (t'ala) who sent Muhammad (saw) with the truth; as a witness and as a beacon of light.
Your brother, Shafi
1st posted MySpace 8th August 2008.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, 24 March 2013
To become a Muslim
To become a Muslim
Yesterday, after Magrib Prayers as I was leaving my local masgid, I bumped into a new Muslim. He is a young Englishman, and recognising him as such I asked him "Are you a new Muslim?"
To which he replied "Yes, of 3 months."
Whenever you meet someone new to the religion, your heart goes out to them. They have chosen to stand and be counted amongst those who verify the Truth of Muhammad (saw) and all that he brought.
They become your brothers and sisters in the religion. And for that (their testimony) ALLAH t'ala, God most High, blesses them abundantly and forgives them their previous sins.
But when ALLAH t'ala blesses the Muslim, He blesses them not with riches, nor with wealth, but with an abundance of good deeds. For the truly fortunate man is the one who is given the opportunity to do good. And it is Islam that opens up an abundance of these opportunities.
From giving and receiving the salutations of Peace, to removing something as innocuous as rubbish from the paths that people walk, to obeying the commands of GOD as they have been transmitted to us through the sayings of Muhammad (saw).
It is these simple things that make us blessed and bless us. However no matter how blessed a person might be (and feel) because of entering the religion, there is one inescapable truth. That entering the religion is the start of a journey, and only GOD knows the manner and end of your final destination.
For Islam teaches at one and the same time abandonment and responsibility. As Muslims we abandon our fate to GOD, and put our trust fully in Him. And as a Muslims we accept full responsibility not just for our actions, but more importantly for our capacity to choose to act in a moral way. That we are rational beings that GOD has entrusted with freedom of choice, so that we might choose to do good.
This is just one of the many paradoxes of Islam, but a better word would be balancing forces. That we live in this World and yet are not of it. That we strive to do good and yet cannot depend upon it. That we hold rationality to be the greatest of GOD-given gifts, and yet choose to believe in an invisible World.
And it is these balancing forces that lend difficulty to our mission on Earth.
It is clear when you read the Qur'an with understanding, that comes of living life, that Muhammad (saw) cared deeply for his people Qur'aish and yet God tells him constantly that it is HE who guides to a straight way and that Muhammad (saw) is but a bearer of a Message. And yet the greatness of Muhammad (saw) is that he showed us what that meant, for he(saw) did not leave off caring for them deeply. And Muhammad (saw) would never offer offence to God in no matter how small a way. And so it is because of this that Allah t'ala consoled Muhammad (saw) when he was denied by his people. And taught him the precariousness of the path that must be trod.
The path between responsibility and abandonment, that we too must try to tread.
And so becoming a Muslim is just the beginning of an upward climb. The ways of ascent belong in this World full of ambiguities, trials and tribulations. But for a Muslim God has promised that He will perfect their belief, and make good their ascent, not in this World but in the World to come.
And so we come full circle back to my new brother of 3 months. I met him only in passing because I had to pack my bags for today's trip. But I heard him say that he had become a Muslim because a friend of his had taken him to a Mosque.
I did not need to hear detail because that story also belonged to me. The angels frequent the Masgids (Mosques) and in them you will find Sakina... Peace and Tranquillity.
If you believe in ONE Transcendental GOD, above creation, but you are unsure about Islam. Then visit a Mosque and sit silently glorify God by saying repetitively "Glory be to God" and "All praise belongs to God" and God-Willing you will find Peace and Islam.
20 years ago that happened to me and my journey began and still continues to unfold.
Your friend & brother,
Shafi
Blogging 11 km above the Atlantic, on my way to visit my brother-in-law in Dallas, TX.
1st posted MySpace 25th July 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Yesterday, after Magrib Prayers as I was leaving my local masgid, I bumped into a new Muslim. He is a young Englishman, and recognising him as such I asked him "Are you a new Muslim?"
To which he replied "Yes, of 3 months."
Whenever you meet someone new to the religion, your heart goes out to them. They have chosen to stand and be counted amongst those who verify the Truth of Muhammad (saw) and all that he brought.
They become your brothers and sisters in the religion. And for that (their testimony) ALLAH t'ala, God most High, blesses them abundantly and forgives them their previous sins.
But when ALLAH t'ala blesses the Muslim, He blesses them not with riches, nor with wealth, but with an abundance of good deeds. For the truly fortunate man is the one who is given the opportunity to do good. And it is Islam that opens up an abundance of these opportunities.
From giving and receiving the salutations of Peace, to removing something as innocuous as rubbish from the paths that people walk, to obeying the commands of GOD as they have been transmitted to us through the sayings of Muhammad (saw).
It is these simple things that make us blessed and bless us. However no matter how blessed a person might be (and feel) because of entering the religion, there is one inescapable truth. That entering the religion is the start of a journey, and only GOD knows the manner and end of your final destination.
For Islam teaches at one and the same time abandonment and responsibility. As Muslims we abandon our fate to GOD, and put our trust fully in Him. And as a Muslims we accept full responsibility not just for our actions, but more importantly for our capacity to choose to act in a moral way. That we are rational beings that GOD has entrusted with freedom of choice, so that we might choose to do good.
This is just one of the many paradoxes of Islam, but a better word would be balancing forces. That we live in this World and yet are not of it. That we strive to do good and yet cannot depend upon it. That we hold rationality to be the greatest of GOD-given gifts, and yet choose to believe in an invisible World.
And it is these balancing forces that lend difficulty to our mission on Earth.
It is clear when you read the Qur'an with understanding, that comes of living life, that Muhammad (saw) cared deeply for his people Qur'aish and yet God tells him constantly that it is HE who guides to a straight way and that Muhammad (saw) is but a bearer of a Message. And yet the greatness of Muhammad (saw) is that he showed us what that meant, for he(saw) did not leave off caring for them deeply. And Muhammad (saw) would never offer offence to God in no matter how small a way. And so it is because of this that Allah t'ala consoled Muhammad (saw) when he was denied by his people. And taught him the precariousness of the path that must be trod.
The path between responsibility and abandonment, that we too must try to tread.
And so becoming a Muslim is just the beginning of an upward climb. The ways of ascent belong in this World full of ambiguities, trials and tribulations. But for a Muslim God has promised that He will perfect their belief, and make good their ascent, not in this World but in the World to come.
And so we come full circle back to my new brother of 3 months. I met him only in passing because I had to pack my bags for today's trip. But I heard him say that he had become a Muslim because a friend of his had taken him to a Mosque.
I did not need to hear detail because that story also belonged to me. The angels frequent the Masgids (Mosques) and in them you will find Sakina... Peace and Tranquillity.
If you believe in ONE Transcendental GOD, above creation, but you are unsure about Islam. Then visit a Mosque and sit silently glorify God by saying repetitively "Glory be to God" and "All praise belongs to God" and God-Willing you will find Peace and Islam.
20 years ago that happened to me and my journey began and still continues to unfold.
Your friend & brother,
Shafi
Blogging 11 km above the Atlantic, on my way to visit my brother-in-law in Dallas, TX.
1st posted MySpace 25th July 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Badr-ee
Badr-ee, Badr-ee,
Ya Badr-ee! (*0)
Who were these people? When one of them sought to betray the Muslims, out of fear of harm coming to his family that were left amongst Qur'aish, Muhammad (saw) said to Umar (ra):
"What know you, perhaps GOD has forgiven all (both present and future) of their sins." (*1)
Their likeness was of angels walking on the Earth. We pride ourselves on being the brethren, and yet how far are we from them whose worth was as mountains of gold? (*2)
For religion teaches man principles, and is not the greatest of principles the unity of the ONE Transcendental God.
And from that ONE, most powerful of Truths, do not all other principles and truths emanate?
This found expression in the lives of those men who showed us the truest of forms of what it means to be principled.
They were tortured by their people and their very own families.
They were scorned, abused and maltreated for daring to say that GOD is ONE.
They were run out of their houses.
And they were made destitute, penniless. (*3)
All done against them by their very own people, Qur'aish.
And yet when they met Qur'aish, on the battle-field of Badr even though they saw with their own eyes thrice their number, they were staunch and resolute, remembering the commands of GOD to do justice in the land.
GOD gave them victory over Qur'aish, their arch enemies.
And yet victory was not theirs, but GOD's only. For on those occasions, victory goes to a mans head and he does things un-imaginable. Not so these hardy men for the ultimate principle, GOD most high, kept them safe.
And when they took Qur'aish as captives, they gave them bread to eat and chose for themselves dates. "O Allah, make us like the Badr-ees." (*4)
They chose hunger for themselves and fed Qur'aish as rich men. They treated Qur'aish well and yet did not hesitate to ransom them for the highest of prices.
This is Islam, the way of the Badr-ee. The most principled of ways. Taking as it's focal point the greatest of principles: GOD, most gracious, the ONE, the ONLY.
1st posted MySpace 11th June 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Ya Badr-ee! (*0)
Who were these people? When one of them sought to betray the Muslims, out of fear of harm coming to his family that were left amongst Qur'aish, Muhammad (saw) said to Umar (ra):
"What know you, perhaps GOD has forgiven all (both present and future) of their sins." (*1)
Their likeness was of angels walking on the Earth. We pride ourselves on being the brethren, and yet how far are we from them whose worth was as mountains of gold? (*2)
For religion teaches man principles, and is not the greatest of principles the unity of the ONE Transcendental God.
And from that ONE, most powerful of Truths, do not all other principles and truths emanate?
This found expression in the lives of those men who showed us the truest of forms of what it means to be principled.
They were tortured by their people and their very own families.
They were scorned, abused and maltreated for daring to say that GOD is ONE.
They were run out of their houses.
And they were made destitute, penniless. (*3)
All done against them by their very own people, Qur'aish.
And yet when they met Qur'aish, on the battle-field of Badr even though they saw with their own eyes thrice their number, they were staunch and resolute, remembering the commands of GOD to do justice in the land.
GOD gave them victory over Qur'aish, their arch enemies.
And yet victory was not theirs, but GOD's only. For on those occasions, victory goes to a mans head and he does things un-imaginable. Not so these hardy men for the ultimate principle, GOD most high, kept them safe.
And when they took Qur'aish as captives, they gave them bread to eat and chose for themselves dates. "O Allah, make us like the Badr-ees." (*4)
They chose hunger for themselves and fed Qur'aish as rich men. They treated Qur'aish well and yet did not hesitate to ransom them for the highest of prices.
This is Islam, the way of the Badr-ee. The most principled of ways. Taking as it's focal point the greatest of principles: GOD, most gracious, the ONE, the ONLY.
1st posted MySpace 11th June 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
My Gaza, a poem.
Raise the Seige Un-finished, other than in Sentiment!
O my gaza, my Gaza.
What has become of thee?
Hemmed in on all sides,
Seiged and beseiged.
O my brothers, my Brothers.
What has become of your plight?
Lacking the means to provide,
Made to lack the means to fight.
O my sisters, my Sisters.
Why does your hair grey?
Forced to watch your children grow,
Only to be humiliated, and made low.
O my children, my Children.
Why have you not played?
How can you in this war zone?
Where you are targeted and hunted.
O my gaza, My Gaza.
What has become of thee?
Bombed, demolished and made unsafe,
For my people that inhabit thee.
O my people, My People.
What has become of us?
That we can't see,
That we hide behind viels of hypocrisy.
O my people, My People.
Why do we do nothing?
Being no better than those thieves,
No better than the murderers who glory in others' griefs.
O my people, My People.
What will it take?
For you to see all that misery,
And to end it, for our own sake.
O my people, My People.
What will it take?
For us to raise this unjust seige,
And this World, a better place, to make!
END
For the veils of hypocrisy ever cover our sight,
Enter our hearts, and cause us to die.
So we become one amongst them who cares not, feels not.
Unless we do, and dare to act!
Many people complicate the issue of Phalestine,
But it is not so for the people who live it.
It is as my brother Malcolm (X) said...
"If a man sticks a knife in you and then pulls it out half an inch..
Do you expect me to thank him?"
Phalestine was never theirs, will never be theirs..
The countless lives they have taken,
The innumerable misery and terrorism they have caused will never be forgotten...
But we, Alhamdolillah, are more principled than they..
We will let GOD, most gracious, take our revenge..
And refrain, and hold back our hand!
And do justice to them
and if they incline to PEACE, then we too will incline to PEACE even as GOD commands us to.
And in GOD, most gracious, we put our trust!
And we know that this life has a begining and an end, and our return is to GOD, who will judge us according to our deeds and how we treated our fellow man (All of them!).
And I comdemn all terrorism, state or individual in all of the places of the World.
Shafi
Forever thinking & crying for my brothers and sisters, sons and
daughters in Phalestine (and throughout the World).
1st published MySpace 1st May 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
O my gaza, my Gaza.
What has become of thee?
Hemmed in on all sides,
Seiged and beseiged.
O my brothers, my Brothers.
What has become of your plight?
Lacking the means to provide,
Made to lack the means to fight.
O my sisters, my Sisters.
Why does your hair grey?
Forced to watch your children grow,
Only to be humiliated, and made low.
O my children, my Children.
Why have you not played?
How can you in this war zone?
Where you are targeted and hunted.
O my gaza, My Gaza.
What has become of thee?
Bombed, demolished and made unsafe,
For my people that inhabit thee.
O my people, My People.
What has become of us?
That we can't see,
That we hide behind viels of hypocrisy.
O my people, My People.
Why do we do nothing?
Being no better than those thieves,
No better than the murderers who glory in others' griefs.
O my people, My People.
What will it take?
For you to see all that misery,
And to end it, for our own sake.
O my people, My People.
What will it take?
For us to raise this unjust seige,
And this World, a better place, to make!
END
For the veils of hypocrisy ever cover our sight,
Enter our hearts, and cause us to die.
So we become one amongst them who cares not, feels not.
Unless we do, and dare to act!
Many people complicate the issue of Phalestine,
But it is not so for the people who live it.
It is as my brother Malcolm (X) said...
"If a man sticks a knife in you and then pulls it out half an inch..
Do you expect me to thank him?"
Phalestine was never theirs, will never be theirs..
The countless lives they have taken,
The innumerable misery and terrorism they have caused will never be forgotten...
But we, Alhamdolillah, are more principled than they..
We will let GOD, most gracious, take our revenge..
And refrain, and hold back our hand!
And do justice to them
and if they incline to PEACE, then we too will incline to PEACE even as GOD commands us to.
And in GOD, most gracious, we put our trust!
And we know that this life has a begining and an end, and our return is to GOD, who will judge us according to our deeds and how we treated our fellow man (All of them!).
And I comdemn all terrorism, state or individual in all of the places of the World.
Shafi
Forever thinking & crying for my brothers and sisters, sons and
daughters in Phalestine (and throughout the World).
1st published MySpace 1st May 2008
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The Ring of Power
The Ring of Power.
On Saturday I had the joy of attending an engagement party for a family friend.
The ceremony was a simple one, the witnessing of the gift of a ring followed by a sumptuous meal.
MAHR.
For 1400 years Muslims have given a gift of Mahr (of significant monetary value) to their bethrowed on the occasion of their marriage.
The symbolism of that gift, whether it be a ring or otherwise, is significant. Mahr is often translated as dowry, but 1400 years ago and to this day, its significance is greater than that.
For Muhammad (saw) came to a people steeped in ignorance, worshiping what their own hands wrought. Killing their own girl children because of the shame that they brought on them and because of the burden they would one day cause them. For just like many Indians today, the dowry was paid from the family of the girl to either the husband or his family. The dowry was a bribe that they might take away their shame.
Muhammad (saw) destroyed that. He (saw) destroyed the shame and the burden. For he (saw) said that heaven lies at the feet (at the service) of your mother. And every girl-child will be, God-Willing, one day a mother. And every man has a mother.
And he (saw) decreed the mahr to be paid from the husband!
And he (saw) decreed for the mahr to be paid, not to the wife's family, nor to her father, but to her solely.
And he (saw) decreed that the Mahr belonged as a gift to the wife, even on the occasion of a divorce.
And by this token, this greatest of tokens, Muhammad (saw) decreed that women will own and will be financially independent of their husbands.
It would not surprise me if the origins of "by this ring I thee wed!" were traced to Muhammad (saw). I have looked summarily into those Christian Origins and can find none, save an age when the Christian Civilisation came into contact with the nascent Islamic one. For so much of what we have came from Muhammad (saw).
For around 200years ago, Europe was still only debating the humanity of women, and whether or not women would enter paradise.
1400 years ago Muhammad (saw) gave the right of ownership to women. And he (saw) gave them the right to partake and be heard within public life.
The RING.
The ring that is used today by many people to wed, is a ring of power. Typically it is a simple band with no workmanship. It's value is in the value of its own purity and weight. It is like the Mahr, a simple token of monetary value, carrying the right of ownership to all wedded women.
Technically the Mahr can be anything of value including a ring. Some Muslims will say that it is un-Islamic for the Mahr to be a ring because we are not supposed to copy the ways of those who are not us. However, the ring for me is a symbol of all the values that have been handed down from us to others. And it is better that we realise the origins of what is us in others, not that we become arrogant and foolish, but that it becomes easier for us to take back what has always been ours! And indeed what is with us is far better and deeper than any that have come before or will come after.
By that token (Mahr or ring) a family unit is forged, a woman is valued and uplifted and all that oppression that was the days of ignorance is thrown aside, by the hand of Muhammad (saw). May Allah t'ala (GOD Most High) reward Muhammad (saw) abundantly, freely, unendingly... that we, the whole of mankind, benefited from all he (saw) brought. Ameen.
Shafi...
1st posted MySpace 11th Feb 2008.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
On Saturday I had the joy of attending an engagement party for a family friend.
The ceremony was a simple one, the witnessing of the gift of a ring followed by a sumptuous meal.
MAHR.
For 1400 years Muslims have given a gift of Mahr (of significant monetary value) to their bethrowed on the occasion of their marriage.
The symbolism of that gift, whether it be a ring or otherwise, is significant. Mahr is often translated as dowry, but 1400 years ago and to this day, its significance is greater than that.
For Muhammad (saw) came to a people steeped in ignorance, worshiping what their own hands wrought. Killing their own girl children because of the shame that they brought on them and because of the burden they would one day cause them. For just like many Indians today, the dowry was paid from the family of the girl to either the husband or his family. The dowry was a bribe that they might take away their shame.
Muhammad (saw) destroyed that. He (saw) destroyed the shame and the burden. For he (saw) said that heaven lies at the feet (at the service) of your mother. And every girl-child will be, God-Willing, one day a mother. And every man has a mother.
And he (saw) decreed the mahr to be paid from the husband!
And he (saw) decreed for the mahr to be paid, not to the wife's family, nor to her father, but to her solely.
And he (saw) decreed that the Mahr belonged as a gift to the wife, even on the occasion of a divorce.
And by this token, this greatest of tokens, Muhammad (saw) decreed that women will own and will be financially independent of their husbands.
It would not surprise me if the origins of "by this ring I thee wed!" were traced to Muhammad (saw). I have looked summarily into those Christian Origins and can find none, save an age when the Christian Civilisation came into contact with the nascent Islamic one. For so much of what we have came from Muhammad (saw).
For around 200years ago, Europe was still only debating the humanity of women, and whether or not women would enter paradise.
1400 years ago Muhammad (saw) gave the right of ownership to women. And he (saw) gave them the right to partake and be heard within public life.
The RING.
The ring that is used today by many people to wed, is a ring of power. Typically it is a simple band with no workmanship. It's value is in the value of its own purity and weight. It is like the Mahr, a simple token of monetary value, carrying the right of ownership to all wedded women.
Technically the Mahr can be anything of value including a ring. Some Muslims will say that it is un-Islamic for the Mahr to be a ring because we are not supposed to copy the ways of those who are not us. However, the ring for me is a symbol of all the values that have been handed down from us to others. And it is better that we realise the origins of what is us in others, not that we become arrogant and foolish, but that it becomes easier for us to take back what has always been ours! And indeed what is with us is far better and deeper than any that have come before or will come after.
By that token (Mahr or ring) a family unit is forged, a woman is valued and uplifted and all that oppression that was the days of ignorance is thrown aside, by the hand of Muhammad (saw). May Allah t'ala (GOD Most High) reward Muhammad (saw) abundantly, freely, unendingly... that we, the whole of mankind, benefited from all he (saw) brought. Ameen.
Shafi...
1st posted MySpace 11th Feb 2008.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Cherish
Yesterday I had to have words with my sons.
It is a FACT of life that oftentimes you just need to be brought back down to Earth, lest you lose yourself.
It is also a FACT of Religion that whenever a Prophet came to his people from GOD, reminding them of their eventual return, it is the POOR people who were the more receptive. Cynics will say that this is because those Religions offered the dream of more; of a distant appeasing Heaven.
But this doesn't explain the opposite FACT that the rich were never really disposed to belief. Again cynics will say that they didn't need a distant Heaven, because their Heaven was here and now.... there and then.
HEAVEN?
However when you are free from the burden of the rat race, of one-upmanship, of keeping up with the Jones's or Shah's, you will realise that the rich are in more NEED of Heaven than the Poor. So many people do realise this fact and that is why so many people do drop out of that race, willingly.
HEAVEN doesn't explain why the rich are indisposed to Religion and hence conversely it doesn't explain why the poor are disposed to it.
What does explain it and explains much more besides is...
POOR People have more capacity to CHERISH.
FACT of life: When you have much, you tend not to appreciate the much that you have.
You lose yourself, who and what you are, in your possessions.
You forget to CHERISH the taste of a morsel of food, the slow sip of refreshing water, the roof over your head, the company of your family, and much more besides.
And when you are poor, the little you have means much.
You are grateful for what little you have, cherish even the small things and are happy.
The Great Religions.
It is this that all great religions teach. Not that you should be poor, but that you should cherish what you have, be grateful for it, realise it's fragility and your dependence. And that is a richness in the heart that no amount of poverty, or lack of means, can touch. And that is the saying of Muhammad (saw), may GOD bless him unendingly, "Poverty and Richness are of the heart. No amount of richness will satisfy a poor man...." (Forgive me paraphrasing that great man's words for I am no Scholar!)
No matter how rich or influential or powerful you are, it is your dependence which is the reality. That even in your hour of power, your world might just fall apart... your body might give out, your currency or stocks in trade might devalue, your people might dessert, your judgement might come.
And then because you were not a cherisher, you will not be cherished. Because you were arrogant and felt yourself self-sufficient, no-one will come to your aid, no intercessor will you have and no friend.
The great religions call you to life, call you to realising the reality of the fragility of life, call you to cherishing every moment.... so that when the time comes, which it shall, your world will not fall apart.
And in that case Islam goes beyond all else. For it is discipline. And it is an edifice that lends itself to both strength and the search for meaning.
Cherish that meaning.
Cherish the soul.
Cherish these words.
ALL Glory belongs to ALLAH t'ala, the most High, the most Gracious... to whom is the return of ALL, both Great and Small!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
It is a FACT of life that oftentimes you just need to be brought back down to Earth, lest you lose yourself.
It is also a FACT of Religion that whenever a Prophet came to his people from GOD, reminding them of their eventual return, it is the POOR people who were the more receptive. Cynics will say that this is because those Religions offered the dream of more; of a distant appeasing Heaven.
But this doesn't explain the opposite FACT that the rich were never really disposed to belief. Again cynics will say that they didn't need a distant Heaven, because their Heaven was here and now.... there and then.
HEAVEN?
However when you are free from the burden of the rat race, of one-upmanship, of keeping up with the Jones's or Shah's, you will realise that the rich are in more NEED of Heaven than the Poor. So many people do realise this fact and that is why so many people do drop out of that race, willingly.
HEAVEN doesn't explain why the rich are indisposed to Religion and hence conversely it doesn't explain why the poor are disposed to it.
What does explain it and explains much more besides is...
POOR People have more capacity to CHERISH.
FACT of life: When you have much, you tend not to appreciate the much that you have.
You lose yourself, who and what you are, in your possessions.
You forget to CHERISH the taste of a morsel of food, the slow sip of refreshing water, the roof over your head, the company of your family, and much more besides.
And when you are poor, the little you have means much.
You are grateful for what little you have, cherish even the small things and are happy.
The Great Religions.
It is this that all great religions teach. Not that you should be poor, but that you should cherish what you have, be grateful for it, realise it's fragility and your dependence. And that is a richness in the heart that no amount of poverty, or lack of means, can touch. And that is the saying of Muhammad (saw), may GOD bless him unendingly, "Poverty and Richness are of the heart. No amount of richness will satisfy a poor man...." (Forgive me paraphrasing that great man's words for I am no Scholar!)
No matter how rich or influential or powerful you are, it is your dependence which is the reality. That even in your hour of power, your world might just fall apart... your body might give out, your currency or stocks in trade might devalue, your people might dessert, your judgement might come.
And then because you were not a cherisher, you will not be cherished. Because you were arrogant and felt yourself self-sufficient, no-one will come to your aid, no intercessor will you have and no friend.
The great religions call you to life, call you to realising the reality of the fragility of life, call you to cherishing every moment.... so that when the time comes, which it shall, your world will not fall apart.
And in that case Islam goes beyond all else. For it is discipline. And it is an edifice that lends itself to both strength and the search for meaning.
Cherish that meaning.
Cherish the soul.
Cherish these words.
ALL Glory belongs to ALLAH t'ala, the most High, the most Gracious... to whom is the return of ALL, both Great and Small!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
What is Piety, revisited.
What is Piety revisited
To DOUBT?
Earlier in my blog I mentioned that Piety is smallness before God. It is realising your dependence on HIM, becoming fully aware of the frailty that is Life!
In other respects it is DOUBT!
Our Nations Sidiq, Abu Bakr (ra) makes that clear. The man who had no doubt, the one who said when he was told that Muhammad (saw) had ascended the heavens in one night.. "If he says it, then it is TRUE!" .
That was the man, who on his being made the Successor if Muhammad (saw) after he had passed away, said in his inauguration speech... "I am not the best amongst you!".
He doubted!
He did not doubt the truth of Muhammad (saw), nor of Islam... but he doubted!
What did he DOUBT? He doubted himself! AND that is true PIETY!
After he had become the leader of the Muslims, he was spotted going to the Market to earn his, and his family's, living. Umar (ra) told him that he should take a stipend from the treasury, because the leader of the Muslims cannot go to the market!
Abu Bakr as-Sidiq (ra) eventually agreed and did so. But he continually doubted himself! He asked several notable companions, amongst them Ali (ra), whether or not the stipend was too weighty or much! And only after they had all given him their opinions in favour of it, did he concede. And yet the doubt remained and he was never really truly at ease. That is PIETY.
It is reflected not just in how you approach GOD, but in how you deal with your fellow man!
The man who had no doubt about GOD and His Messenger, doubted himself and that stands him out to be amongst the truly Pious...
IN Contrast the Khawarij... they prayed until their beards were wet with tears. But they thought themselves better than the companions and they never doubted themselves!
STRENGTH...."Never let your morals get in the way of Doing what's Right!"
I have thought on this English saying and I can only find one instance in which it might be said to hold true. And that is when you are faced with a situation where an animal is suffering and you are in a position to end that suffering. For me morals are principles, and principles should always be upheld!
For me... it makes more sense to say "Never let your PIETY get in the way of doing what's RIGHT!" This for me rings more true! For piety is smallness before God, and humility before man. But that should not stop you from doing what is right. And it didn't stop Abu Bakr As-Sadiq (ra) from fighting the Ridaa Wars.
When it was necessary to be Strong... He was strong and fearless!
However there is vital difference between him and his attitude and our leaders! Have you ever seen TB or GB when they meet the people with whom they don't agree. You can see the scorn on their faces. When the anti-war protesters marched, they did not listen but rather gave the refrain "We have a mandate!"... derision!
When the rebels, who sought to fight the Muslims, re-entered Islam and came before Abu Bakr (ra)... How did he treat them? He treated them with all respect, and kindness and thought the best of them!
He bestowed honour and presents upon those who initially fought against him. And only when they proved the worst (as happened on one case) did he judge them based on their worst!
Piety... even when you have to be strong and fearless, is to think the best of people! And to think as Abu Bakr (ra) said in his inaugural speech.. "I am not the best amongst you!". And this is one of the lessons that Jesus (Nabi Isa (ra)) was sent to teach mankind.. "every man who puts himself up as somebody, will become a nobody!"
To augur ILL?
When Muhammad (saw), and for that matter all Prophets, was sent to Qur'aish they suffered the drought. Allah t'ala made it so, so that their hearts might open to HIS message. That they might feel vulnerable and remember HIM. But as with the man mentioned in S. Fajr, they augured ill of Muhammad (and all the Prophets). This is contrary to belief!
A believing man augurs well even during hard times. Just as the Muhammad's (saw) companions augured well of the battle of the trench, when they had no food and were hard pressed in the defense of Medina... "This is what God has promised!". May Allah t'ala bless them, who showed us the qualities of belief!
Steriotypes..
It is this attitude that we find in the believer, that we found in Muhammad (saw) and in his successor Abu Bakr (as), to think the best of the people and to augur only good from them (unless they prove it false), that destroys steriotypes. It is the lesson of all four of the rightly guided Caliphs, to think the best of the people and to carry your faith in God to the limits that are demanded.
And this is the rational attitude that I mentioned in my blog on Conspiracy Theories.. the Diana Conspiracies. Take and think the best of what everyone has to offer, and if you have to argue (from a discussion point of view) then argue to the best of what they have to offer. Do not assume the worst of any man!
The Relevance to Me!
As I said in my previous blog.... the issues of Piety and the Khawarij, are a source of constant deliberation for me. Who they were, why they were and what they were?
But when I forget about the World and focus on my brothers in the religion, I find that they do not think as much as they should on those issues. For them piety is a book, or a prayer?
They do not doubt themselves, nor do they think good of the people (other than those that resemble them), and they sometimes augur ill.
I remember when I posted some thoughts on another website, trying to make Muslims think... they augured ill of me, thought badly of me and did not doubt themselves!
1st postedMySpace 12th Nov 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
To DOUBT?
Earlier in my blog I mentioned that Piety is smallness before God. It is realising your dependence on HIM, becoming fully aware of the frailty that is Life!
In other respects it is DOUBT!
Our Nations Sidiq, Abu Bakr (ra) makes that clear. The man who had no doubt, the one who said when he was told that Muhammad (saw) had ascended the heavens in one night.. "If he says it, then it is TRUE!" .
That was the man, who on his being made the Successor if Muhammad (saw) after he had passed away, said in his inauguration speech... "I am not the best amongst you!".
He doubted!
He did not doubt the truth of Muhammad (saw), nor of Islam... but he doubted!
What did he DOUBT? He doubted himself! AND that is true PIETY!
After he had become the leader of the Muslims, he was spotted going to the Market to earn his, and his family's, living. Umar (ra) told him that he should take a stipend from the treasury, because the leader of the Muslims cannot go to the market!
Abu Bakr as-Sidiq (ra) eventually agreed and did so. But he continually doubted himself! He asked several notable companions, amongst them Ali (ra), whether or not the stipend was too weighty or much! And only after they had all given him their opinions in favour of it, did he concede. And yet the doubt remained and he was never really truly at ease. That is PIETY.
It is reflected not just in how you approach GOD, but in how you deal with your fellow man!
The man who had no doubt about GOD and His Messenger, doubted himself and that stands him out to be amongst the truly Pious...
IN Contrast the Khawarij... they prayed until their beards were wet with tears. But they thought themselves better than the companions and they never doubted themselves!
STRENGTH...."Never let your morals get in the way of Doing what's Right!"
I have thought on this English saying and I can only find one instance in which it might be said to hold true. And that is when you are faced with a situation where an animal is suffering and you are in a position to end that suffering. For me morals are principles, and principles should always be upheld!
For me... it makes more sense to say "Never let your PIETY get in the way of doing what's RIGHT!" This for me rings more true! For piety is smallness before God, and humility before man. But that should not stop you from doing what is right. And it didn't stop Abu Bakr As-Sadiq (ra) from fighting the Ridaa Wars.
When it was necessary to be Strong... He was strong and fearless!
However there is vital difference between him and his attitude and our leaders! Have you ever seen TB or GB when they meet the people with whom they don't agree. You can see the scorn on their faces. When the anti-war protesters marched, they did not listen but rather gave the refrain "We have a mandate!"... derision!
When the rebels, who sought to fight the Muslims, re-entered Islam and came before Abu Bakr (ra)... How did he treat them? He treated them with all respect, and kindness and thought the best of them!
He bestowed honour and presents upon those who initially fought against him. And only when they proved the worst (as happened on one case) did he judge them based on their worst!
Piety... even when you have to be strong and fearless, is to think the best of people! And to think as Abu Bakr (ra) said in his inaugural speech.. "I am not the best amongst you!". And this is one of the lessons that Jesus (Nabi Isa (ra)) was sent to teach mankind.. "every man who puts himself up as somebody, will become a nobody!"
To augur ILL?
When Muhammad (saw), and for that matter all Prophets, was sent to Qur'aish they suffered the drought. Allah t'ala made it so, so that their hearts might open to HIS message. That they might feel vulnerable and remember HIM. But as with the man mentioned in S. Fajr, they augured ill of Muhammad (and all the Prophets). This is contrary to belief!
A believing man augurs well even during hard times. Just as the Muhammad's (saw) companions augured well of the battle of the trench, when they had no food and were hard pressed in the defense of Medina... "This is what God has promised!". May Allah t'ala bless them, who showed us the qualities of belief!
Steriotypes..
It is this attitude that we find in the believer, that we found in Muhammad (saw) and in his successor Abu Bakr (as), to think the best of the people and to augur only good from them (unless they prove it false), that destroys steriotypes. It is the lesson of all four of the rightly guided Caliphs, to think the best of the people and to carry your faith in God to the limits that are demanded.
And this is the rational attitude that I mentioned in my blog on Conspiracy Theories.. the Diana Conspiracies. Take and think the best of what everyone has to offer, and if you have to argue (from a discussion point of view) then argue to the best of what they have to offer. Do not assume the worst of any man!
The Relevance to Me!
As I said in my previous blog.... the issues of Piety and the Khawarij, are a source of constant deliberation for me. Who they were, why they were and what they were?
But when I forget about the World and focus on my brothers in the religion, I find that they do not think as much as they should on those issues. For them piety is a book, or a prayer?
They do not doubt themselves, nor do they think good of the people (other than those that resemble them), and they sometimes augur ill.
I remember when I posted some thoughts on another website, trying to make Muslims think... they augured ill of me, thought badly of me and did not doubt themselves!
1st postedMySpace 12th Nov 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
On Methodology
ON Methodology !
During the centuries that followed Muhammad (saw) there have been two streams of thought for thinking on Islam. One is in my opinion an ossification of the religion and the other represents living Islam. The first is the ahl-al-hadeeth (the people of the sayings if Muhammad(saw))and the second is the ahl al-raey (the people of thinking).
Imam Abu Haneefa (rm) was the foremost proponent of the second school in that he saw that the importance of being able to question, within the remit of what was holy, as being paramount or superior to the answers themselves.
Placing the question over the answer is a fundamental difference between those two streams of thought. The one leaves the door wide open, whilst the other seeks to close it. And contrary to what the ahl al- Hadeeth claim both schools do use Hadeeth as points of evidence!
Some people say that the reason imam Abu Haneefa (rh) did not record his fatwas was because he was well aware of his fallibility, others that he was an incapable scholar of hadeeth (and knew so)...
But both do not know the half of it. If either case were so, then why did his students, who were not even half his worth, both honour him and write down their fatwas? He (rh) wanted to keep the door wide open, knowing full well the power of questions!
The power of questions... is the power of Ah Ha! It is the strength of discovery to shape and change. Ever had to solve a problem, ever felt "Ah Ha"?
If I were to give you a solution, an answer... would you really feel different, feel capable, feel empowered, be willing to change? If I were to give you a problem and help you with pointers... what then?
This is the power of experience, the power of being the problem and finding the solution! And this is power that Rasul Allah (saw) and his companions experienced first hand... being within the problem and feeling the guiding Hand of God about them! And this is the power that changed them so miraculoulsy.
And this is also the power of the Qur'an which talks to your heart, becomes your problem and challenges you to find a solution!
The Qur'an, Allah t'ala's WORD, which calls itself a guide? In it is contained a codex, by which if you live your life God guarantees you Paradise. The codex is the five pillars of action and the six beliefs of your heart. But even then it calls itself a guide? In the first verse following Al-Fatiha... "A guide to the pious", and then Allah t'ala gives us some of their attributes referring to both their actions (5 pillars) and their (6) beliefs! A guide, WHY?
Because Islam concerns itself with living and the 5 pillars/ 6 beliefs are not the whole of life!
(Remember the pious Woman who religiously prayed her salaat, but for whom our RasulAllah (saw) informed us would be punished because she did not water the dog!)
The Qur'an is a miraculous book. It talks to us all on many levels. Firstly it is in it's own right it is a historical document of the happenings that went on around Muhammad (saw) and his companions. Secondly it is a book that talks to you in your own life. It forces you to think on it, ponder it and plume its depths.
Life is a search for meaning! And Islam, and the Qur'an have made us rich with meanings abundant!
And so my methodology here will be the same as I believe! I will not fill in all the blanks, cross all the Ts and dot all the Is! Rather, I will try to ask the relevant question, point to a possible solution and hope Islam enriches your life with countless blessings and meanings as it has mine and so many others!
Your Brother... Shafi
PS
In my blog entitled "Do Muslims love to HATE?" I said a thing that many students of Islam might well disagree with. I have my reasons for both saying and believing what I said there and I will next write a blog to make clear those differences of opinion, so that you might choose yourself which best represents the Truth! Insha Allah!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
During the centuries that followed Muhammad (saw) there have been two streams of thought for thinking on Islam. One is in my opinion an ossification of the religion and the other represents living Islam. The first is the ahl-al-hadeeth (the people of the sayings if Muhammad(saw))and the second is the ahl al-raey (the people of thinking).
Imam Abu Haneefa (rm) was the foremost proponent of the second school in that he saw that the importance of being able to question, within the remit of what was holy, as being paramount or superior to the answers themselves.
Placing the question over the answer is a fundamental difference between those two streams of thought. The one leaves the door wide open, whilst the other seeks to close it. And contrary to what the ahl al- Hadeeth claim both schools do use Hadeeth as points of evidence!
Some people say that the reason imam Abu Haneefa (rh) did not record his fatwas was because he was well aware of his fallibility, others that he was an incapable scholar of hadeeth (and knew so)...
But both do not know the half of it. If either case were so, then why did his students, who were not even half his worth, both honour him and write down their fatwas? He (rh) wanted to keep the door wide open, knowing full well the power of questions!
The power of questions... is the power of Ah Ha! It is the strength of discovery to shape and change. Ever had to solve a problem, ever felt "Ah Ha"?
If I were to give you a solution, an answer... would you really feel different, feel capable, feel empowered, be willing to change? If I were to give you a problem and help you with pointers... what then?
This is the power of experience, the power of being the problem and finding the solution! And this is power that Rasul Allah (saw) and his companions experienced first hand... being within the problem and feeling the guiding Hand of God about them! And this is the power that changed them so miraculoulsy.
And this is also the power of the Qur'an which talks to your heart, becomes your problem and challenges you to find a solution!
The Qur'an, Allah t'ala's WORD, which calls itself a guide? In it is contained a codex, by which if you live your life God guarantees you Paradise. The codex is the five pillars of action and the six beliefs of your heart. But even then it calls itself a guide? In the first verse following Al-Fatiha... "A guide to the pious", and then Allah t'ala gives us some of their attributes referring to both their actions (5 pillars) and their (6) beliefs! A guide, WHY?
Because Islam concerns itself with living and the 5 pillars/ 6 beliefs are not the whole of life!
(Remember the pious Woman who religiously prayed her salaat, but for whom our RasulAllah (saw) informed us would be punished because she did not water the dog!)
The Qur'an is a miraculous book. It talks to us all on many levels. Firstly it is in it's own right it is a historical document of the happenings that went on around Muhammad (saw) and his companions. Secondly it is a book that talks to you in your own life. It forces you to think on it, ponder it and plume its depths.
Life is a search for meaning! And Islam, and the Qur'an have made us rich with meanings abundant!
And so my methodology here will be the same as I believe! I will not fill in all the blanks, cross all the Ts and dot all the Is! Rather, I will try to ask the relevant question, point to a possible solution and hope Islam enriches your life with countless blessings and meanings as it has mine and so many others!
Your Brother... Shafi
PS
In my blog entitled "Do Muslims love to HATE?" I said a thing that many students of Islam might well disagree with. I have my reasons for both saying and believing what I said there and I will next write a blog to make clear those differences of opinion, so that you might choose yourself which best represents the Truth! Insha Allah!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Who killed Jesus (as)? A response to a Newsweek article.
The below letter was written in response to an article in Newsweek, which followed the general release of the film "Passion of Christ". The article asked the question of culpability, and I answered from the Muslim point of view. My letter remains un-published...
Dear Editor,
"Who killed Jesus?" gave a comparative view between the two great monotheistic religions Judaism and Christianity, whilst leaving out the third- Islam.
That the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed 600 years after Jesus should not lead us to conclude that it has nothing to say on this matter.In fact Muslims, unlike Jews, believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and affirm him to be the Messiah, where they differ from Christianity is in their not accepting that her ever claimed to be the Son of God, nor in his death on the Crucifix.
The Plot
The Quran clearly mentions a plot to kill Jesus. It mentions an accusation that was directed at Jesus and is refuted in the Quran by God, as false. Furthermore the Quran informs us that Jesus was raised, body and soul, to God and was not crucified on the cross. God gave the likeness of Jesus to another person who was then crucified in his place. Bearing this in mind, no Muslim can doubt that the Jewish High Priests were complicit in the attempted murder of Jesus (pbuh).
The Accusation
From your narrative it is clear that the accusation referred to in the Quran is their claim that Jesus blasphemed through his profession to be the Son of God. To which he replied that he was the son of Man, affirming his humanity. In the Quran it is clear that Jesus at or just before the accusation knows his accusers to be non-believers, and they are furthermore declared as such by God in the Qur'an (even though hey may still have professed a belief in HIM).
A Show Trial
This and the fact that he did not present arguments to Pontas Pilot would obviously indicate that he knew that he was subject to a show trial where his judges had a priori determined his fate and were bent on killing him.
Some Questions?
Could then the words "Forgive them, for they know not what they do?" really fit into Jesus's mouth when he knew, that they knew what they were doing.
Or could the reference really be to the fact that he thought that they were unaware that he was a Prophet of God, even though God had supported him with clear proofs including great miracles?
Would those words not better fit another man who had not been tried correctly (but was nonetheless guilty of a severe crime of not believing in a Prophet)?
Nor do the words "My Lord why have you forsaken?" fit into the mouth of a man who came to preach about faith and the necessity of it. Who told his disciplies not to worry and gave them the example of the Ravens, that do not sow and do not reap.
Another Man?
But, they do fit into the mouth of a man who believed erreonously in his own piety, after his rejection of Jesus (pbuh). For sometimes piety can blind you to reality as you wallow in your own sense of superiority. And this was one of the lessons that Jesus ((pbuh) came to teach the Jews, that "everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become nobody ...".
Who is Culpable? Who will be held responsible for that Crime, the crime of attempted murder?
Hence for Muslims both the Jewish High Priests and Pontias Pilot were responsible for the attempted murder of Jesus, and it is clear that they believed that they had accomplished their crime.
Jewish people in general nor the whole worlds people can bear responsibility for that crime, for Muslims believe that you will be asked concerning only what you did and what you did not do.
Muhammad (saw) and his message>
As to the historical veracity of the Quran, it would seem more politically expedient for Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) to placate the three powerful Jewish tribes that lived on the doorstep of his city, especially so whilst the whole of Arabia sought to destroy him and his nascent Islamic call to the One God.
As with all the great Abrahamic Prophets his mission, like that of Moses and Jesus (pbut), was to confront the established status quo whether they be the most powerful man on Earth or the High Priesthood of the Jews or the Guardians of the Holy Sanctuary (Mecca).
The Irony of it All !
The irony of it all, from the standpoint of Muslims, is the fact that the accusation that the Jewish High Priests falsely laid on Jesus in order for them to crucify him, is now accepted as true by the majority of his followers.
Shafi
1st Published MySpace 21st Oct 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Dear Editor,
"Who killed Jesus?" gave a comparative view between the two great monotheistic religions Judaism and Christianity, whilst leaving out the third- Islam.
That the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed 600 years after Jesus should not lead us to conclude that it has nothing to say on this matter.In fact Muslims, unlike Jews, believe in the virgin birth of Jesus and affirm him to be the Messiah, where they differ from Christianity is in their not accepting that her ever claimed to be the Son of God, nor in his death on the Crucifix.
The Plot
The Quran clearly mentions a plot to kill Jesus. It mentions an accusation that was directed at Jesus and is refuted in the Quran by God, as false. Furthermore the Quran informs us that Jesus was raised, body and soul, to God and was not crucified on the cross. God gave the likeness of Jesus to another person who was then crucified in his place. Bearing this in mind, no Muslim can doubt that the Jewish High Priests were complicit in the attempted murder of Jesus (pbuh).
The Accusation
From your narrative it is clear that the accusation referred to in the Quran is their claim that Jesus blasphemed through his profession to be the Son of God. To which he replied that he was the son of Man, affirming his humanity. In the Quran it is clear that Jesus at or just before the accusation knows his accusers to be non-believers, and they are furthermore declared as such by God in the Qur'an (even though hey may still have professed a belief in HIM).
A Show Trial
This and the fact that he did not present arguments to Pontas Pilot would obviously indicate that he knew that he was subject to a show trial where his judges had a priori determined his fate and were bent on killing him.
Some Questions?
Could then the words "Forgive them, for they know not what they do?" really fit into Jesus's mouth when he knew, that they knew what they were doing.
Or could the reference really be to the fact that he thought that they were unaware that he was a Prophet of God, even though God had supported him with clear proofs including great miracles?
Would those words not better fit another man who had not been tried correctly (but was nonetheless guilty of a severe crime of not believing in a Prophet)?
Nor do the words "My Lord why have you forsaken?" fit into the mouth of a man who came to preach about faith and the necessity of it. Who told his disciplies not to worry and gave them the example of the Ravens, that do not sow and do not reap.
Another Man?
But, they do fit into the mouth of a man who believed erreonously in his own piety, after his rejection of Jesus (pbuh). For sometimes piety can blind you to reality as you wallow in your own sense of superiority. And this was one of the lessons that Jesus ((pbuh) came to teach the Jews, that "everyone who sets himself up as somebody will become nobody ...".
Who is Culpable? Who will be held responsible for that Crime, the crime of attempted murder?
Hence for Muslims both the Jewish High Priests and Pontias Pilot were responsible for the attempted murder of Jesus, and it is clear that they believed that they had accomplished their crime.
Jewish people in general nor the whole worlds people can bear responsibility for that crime, for Muslims believe that you will be asked concerning only what you did and what you did not do.
Muhammad (saw) and his message>
As to the historical veracity of the Quran, it would seem more politically expedient for Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) to placate the three powerful Jewish tribes that lived on the doorstep of his city, especially so whilst the whole of Arabia sought to destroy him and his nascent Islamic call to the One God.
As with all the great Abrahamic Prophets his mission, like that of Moses and Jesus (pbut), was to confront the established status quo whether they be the most powerful man on Earth or the High Priesthood of the Jews or the Guardians of the Holy Sanctuary (Mecca).
The Irony of it All !
The irony of it all, from the standpoint of Muslims, is the fact that the accusation that the Jewish High Priests falsely laid on Jesus in order for them to crucify him, is now accepted as true by the majority of his followers.
Shafi
1st Published MySpace 21st Oct 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Imagine, a poem for Conor
Imagine...
You couldn't love.
You never could be hurt,
You'd forever feel well above.
Well above.
Never lying in the dirt,
never smelling the earth.
Never experiencing the highs.
Never expressing those lows,
with your sobs and sighs.
Never truly living.
Forever remaining the same,
Living a death, without ever really dying!
Truly God generously gives to us.
Retains the right to remove from us.
To try us, for He is the Just.
The ONE who gives without measure,
and removes. To see which of us is True.
To believe in HIM and have faith in HIM, for that is the greatest Treasure.
Perchance HE might give again,
Someone else's heart, HE might make yours again,
And then you'll smile at all those memories of your current pain.
When the pain ebbs and the memories harken,
Remember at least you've loved and been loved.
And then be happy that you have a heart, that can be broken.
So stay True my friend Conor.
And live your life, the best of lives,
full of love, hope, happiness and Honor!
Shafi
Written for my freind Conor in his hour of need... to help him remember the bigger things in life. And if you ever want to read poetry from the heart... then read Conor!
First posted MySpace 16th Oct 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
You couldn't love.
You never could be hurt,
You'd forever feel well above.
Well above.
Never lying in the dirt,
never smelling the earth.
Never experiencing the highs.
Never expressing those lows,
with your sobs and sighs.
Never truly living.
Forever remaining the same,
Living a death, without ever really dying!
Truly God generously gives to us.
Retains the right to remove from us.
To try us, for He is the Just.
The ONE who gives without measure,
and removes. To see which of us is True.
To believe in HIM and have faith in HIM, for that is the greatest Treasure.
Perchance HE might give again,
Someone else's heart, HE might make yours again,
And then you'll smile at all those memories of your current pain.
When the pain ebbs and the memories harken,
Remember at least you've loved and been loved.
And then be happy that you have a heart, that can be broken.
So stay True my friend Conor.
And live your life, the best of lives,
full of love, hope, happiness and Honor!
Shafi
Written for my freind Conor in his hour of need... to help him remember the bigger things in life. And if you ever want to read poetry from the heart... then read Conor!
First posted MySpace 16th Oct 2007.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Finding the common ground between the Roman Catholic Church and homosexuality.
I'm quite certain that by the end of this analysis most Catholics would agree with that commonality, but that most advocates of homosexual equality would not.
But then the rationality of those advocates has always been questionable.
In the 90s they argued that the fight for gender equality necessarily required one to also fight against discrimination on sexual orientation grounds. And that idea still hold sway among many people today.
The problem with equating the two is that whilst one is a given; you are either a male or a female; the other is a choice of what you find desirable. That quandary even saw them postulate a so-called "gay" gene, which has since been discredited after millions of dollars of research spent searching for it.
What's telling is that those so called advocates often promote themselves as proponents of equality against discrimination, in a rationalist tradition. But any rational person with even a rudimentary understanding of genetics or evolution would guess at the impossibility of a "gay" gene since its very expression would be it's demise.
And so we had those errant advocates proposing an impossible genetic theory in order to justify their claim that discrimination against sexual orientation was akin to gender bias. Pure nonsense.
And once you discount that theory, even after you have spent millions of dollars in a vain search, you are left with the obvious: that sexual orientation is a lifestyle choice.
And a lifestyle choice that can be just as highly damaging to our genetic necessity of gene promotion, let alone social and familial stability. A lifestyle choice whose promotion to being akin to gender issues is a disservice to those gender issues.
Just as is the Roman Catholic's choice to serve in the clergy.
Both are lifestyle choices, and both can cause sexual dysfunction in some. And that is their common ground. That the Catholics, I feel sure would admit, whilst those advocates would never.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
But then the rationality of those advocates has always been questionable.
In the 90s they argued that the fight for gender equality necessarily required one to also fight against discrimination on sexual orientation grounds. And that idea still hold sway among many people today.
The problem with equating the two is that whilst one is a given; you are either a male or a female; the other is a choice of what you find desirable. That quandary even saw them postulate a so-called "gay" gene, which has since been discredited after millions of dollars of research spent searching for it.
What's telling is that those so called advocates often promote themselves as proponents of equality against discrimination, in a rationalist tradition. But any rational person with even a rudimentary understanding of genetics or evolution would guess at the impossibility of a "gay" gene since its very expression would be it's demise.
And so we had those errant advocates proposing an impossible genetic theory in order to justify their claim that discrimination against sexual orientation was akin to gender bias. Pure nonsense.
And once you discount that theory, even after you have spent millions of dollars in a vain search, you are left with the obvious: that sexual orientation is a lifestyle choice.
And a lifestyle choice that can be just as highly damaging to our genetic necessity of gene promotion, let alone social and familial stability. A lifestyle choice whose promotion to being akin to gender issues is a disservice to those gender issues.
Just as is the Roman Catholic's choice to serve in the clergy.
Both are lifestyle choices, and both can cause sexual dysfunction in some. And that is their common ground. That the Catholics, I feel sure would admit, whilst those advocates would never.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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