In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
181. Allah has heard the taunt of those who say, "Truly Allah is indigent, and we are rich!" We shall certainly record their words, and their slaying the prophets in defiance of right, and We shall say, "Taste you the penalty of the scorching fire!"
182. This is because of that which your hands sent on before you, for Allah never harms those who serve God.
183. They said, "Allah took our promise not to believe in a messenger, unless he showed us a sacrifice consumed by fire." Say, "There came to you messengers before me, with Clear Signs, and even with what you ask for. Why then did you slay them, if you speak the truth?"
The Family of Imran 3:181-183
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There came to you messengers before me, with Clear Signs, and even with what you ask for. Why then did you slay them, if you speak the truth?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Qur'an 20081229
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
168. The ones that say, while they themselves sit, "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been slain." Say, "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth."
169. Think not of those slain in Allah's way as dead. No, they live, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their Lord.
The Family of Imran 3:168-169
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Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth.
We approach the most famous aspect of Islamic philosophy: do we make like Gandhi, or do we fight back?
The biggest difference of reaction between Gandhi and prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) is that prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was commanded by God to fight back. After all, prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was in service to Allah.
What is "fighting in Allah's cause"? Allah is the Compassionate One , the Forgiving, the Merciful, the Just... and so on. Allah commands to fight oppression. But are you fighting oppression, or taking revenge? Or even worse, fullfilling your personal ambition? These motives are not hidden to God, and God will eventually make these motives plain to humans. Besides that, how can you justify being for the cause of Allah when you INTENTIONALLY hurt the innocent? When you DON'T EVEN TRY TO HELP the innocent you accidently hurt?
What is "oppression" in the Qur'an? In studying the Qur'an, I find that authority figures and organizations are under extremely close scrutiny by Allah. If authority figures and organizations hurt the worshippers of Allah, and the innocent, then this could be counted as oppression. The situation is complex of course, but as a Muslim, how can you go wrong if you make an effort to protect the worship of Allah and make it easy, and to protect the innocent? This counts as "fighting in Allah's cause"!
5:45 We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they wrongdoers.
Here we find a better option than revenge, and the Word of Allah is better than any human, no matter how educated he/she is. But since so few humans are willing to forgive, it results in the downward spiral of death and revenge, ever since the very first murder. In the case of prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), the oppression was so overwhelming that God was the one who drew the line, and gave the Command to fight back. Then Judgement Day. Although it is too late to stop the domino effect to Judgment Day, we can still try to be compassionate like Allah.
168. The ones that say, while they themselves sit, "If only they had listened to us, they would not have been slain." Say, "Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth."
169. Think not of those slain in Allah's way as dead. No, they live, finding their sustenance in the Presence of their Lord.
The Family of Imran 3:168-169
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Avert death from your own selves, if you speak the truth.
We approach the most famous aspect of Islamic philosophy: do we make like Gandhi, or do we fight back?
The biggest difference of reaction between Gandhi and prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) is that prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was commanded by God to fight back. After all, prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was in service to Allah.
What is "fighting in Allah's cause"? Allah is the Compassionate One , the Forgiving, the Merciful, the Just... and so on. Allah commands to fight oppression. But are you fighting oppression, or taking revenge? Or even worse, fullfilling your personal ambition? These motives are not hidden to God, and God will eventually make these motives plain to humans. Besides that, how can you justify being for the cause of Allah when you INTENTIONALLY hurt the innocent? When you DON'T EVEN TRY TO HELP the innocent you accidently hurt?
What is "oppression" in the Qur'an? In studying the Qur'an, I find that authority figures and organizations are under extremely close scrutiny by Allah. If authority figures and organizations hurt the worshippers of Allah, and the innocent, then this could be counted as oppression. The situation is complex of course, but as a Muslim, how can you go wrong if you make an effort to protect the worship of Allah and make it easy, and to protect the innocent? This counts as "fighting in Allah's cause"!
5:45 We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they wrongdoers.
Here we find a better option than revenge, and the Word of Allah is better than any human, no matter how educated he/she is. But since so few humans are willing to forgive, it results in the downward spiral of death and revenge, ever since the very first murder. In the case of prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), the oppression was so overwhelming that God was the one who drew the line, and gave the Command to fight back. Then Judgement Day. Although it is too late to stop the domino effect to Judgment Day, we can still try to be compassionate like Allah.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Qur'an 20081228
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
165. What! When a single disaster smites you, although you smote with one twice as great, do you say, "Whence is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things."
166. What you suffered on the day the two armies met was with the leave of Allah, in order that God might test the believers.
167. And the hypocrites also. These were told, "Come fight in the way of Allah, or drive." They said, "Had we known there would be a fight, we should have certainly followed you." They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts. But Allah has full knowledge of all they conceal.
The Family of Imran 3:165-167
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It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things.
Being firm and fighting for good is extremely hard, when the apparent rewards for being evil are so tempting. The lesson is that life is short, and the rewards for good come in the Hereafter, and if God Wills, this life also. God is not unjust, it's only that our mortal perception of time is distorted.
Nevertheless, being mortal gives us excuses to bitch and whine. That's why being patient, and persistent with good deeds, translates to great strength.
3:162 Is the man who follows the Good Pleasure of Allah like the man who draws on himself the Wrath of Allah, and whose abode is hell? A woeful refuge!
165. What! When a single disaster smites you, although you smote with one twice as great, do you say, "Whence is this?" Say, "It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things."
166. What you suffered on the day the two armies met was with the leave of Allah, in order that God might test the believers.
167. And the hypocrites also. These were told, "Come fight in the way of Allah, or drive." They said, "Had we known there would be a fight, we should have certainly followed you." They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts. But Allah has full knowledge of all they conceal.
The Family of Imran 3:165-167
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It is from yourselves, for Allah has Power over all things.
Being firm and fighting for good is extremely hard, when the apparent rewards for being evil are so tempting. The lesson is that life is short, and the rewards for good come in the Hereafter, and if God Wills, this life also. God is not unjust, it's only that our mortal perception of time is distorted.
Nevertheless, being mortal gives us excuses to bitch and whine. That's why being patient, and persistent with good deeds, translates to great strength.
3:162 Is the man who follows the Good Pleasure of Allah like the man who draws on himself the Wrath of Allah, and whose abode is hell? A woeful refuge!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Qur'an 20081226
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
154. After that of the distress, God sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred with anxiety by their own feelings, moved by wrong suspicions of Allah- suspicions due to ignorance. They said, "What affair is this of ours?" Say you, "Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's." They hide in their minds what they dare not reveal to you. They say,"If we had had anything to do with this affair, we would not have been in the slaughter here." Say, "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death." But that Allah might test what is in your breasts, and purge what is in your hearts. For Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts.
The Family of Imran 3:154
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Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's.
Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death.
154. After that of the distress, God sent down calm on a band of you overcome with slumber, while another band was stirred with anxiety by their own feelings, moved by wrong suspicions of Allah- suspicions due to ignorance. They said, "What affair is this of ours?" Say you, "Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's." They hide in their minds what they dare not reveal to you. They say,"If we had had anything to do with this affair, we would not have been in the slaughter here." Say, "Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death." But that Allah might test what is in your breasts, and purge what is in your hearts. For Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts.
The Family of Imran 3:154
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Indeed, this affair is wholly Allah's.
Even if you had remained in your homes, those for whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Qur'an 20081222
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
119. Ah! You are those who love them, but they love you not, though you believe in the whole of the Book. When they meet you, they say, "We believe," but when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say, "Perish in your rage. Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart."
120. If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you, for Allah compasses round about all that they do.
The Family of Imran 3:119-120
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Perish in your rage. Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart.
119. Ah! You are those who love them, but they love you not, though you believe in the whole of the Book. When they meet you, they say, "We believe," but when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say, "Perish in your rage. Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart."
120. If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if you are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you, for Allah compasses round about all that they do.
The Family of Imran 3:119-120
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Perish in your rage. Allah knows well all the secrets of the heart.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Qur'an 20081219
95. Say, "Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith. He was not of the pagans."
96. The first House appointed for humans was that at Bakkah, full of blessing, and of guidance for all kinds of beings.
97. In it are Signs manifest, the Station of Abraham: whoever enters it attains security. Pilgrimage thereto is a duty humans owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey. But if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of God's creatures.
98. Say, "O people of the Book! Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to all you do?"
99. Say, "O people of the Book! Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses? But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do."
100. O you who believe! If you listen to a faction among the people of the Book, they would render you apostates after you have believed!
The Family of Imran 3:95-100
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Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith. He was not of the pagans.
O people of the Book! Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to all you do?
O people of the Book! Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses? But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do.
96. The first House appointed for humans was that at Bakkah, full of blessing, and of guidance for all kinds of beings.
97. In it are Signs manifest, the Station of Abraham: whoever enters it attains security. Pilgrimage thereto is a duty humans owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey. But if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of God's creatures.
98. Say, "O people of the Book! Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to all you do?"
99. Say, "O people of the Book! Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses? But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do."
100. O you who believe! If you listen to a faction among the people of the Book, they would render you apostates after you have believed!
The Family of Imran 3:95-100
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Allah speaks the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith. He was not of the pagans.
O people of the Book! Why reject you the Signs of Allah, when Allah is Witness to all you do?
O people of the Book! Why obstruct you those who believe, from the path of Allah, seeking to make it crooked, while you were yourselves witnesses? But Allah is not unmindful of all that you do.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Qur'an 20081218
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
92. By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give of which you love. And whatever you give, of a truth Allah knows it well.
93. All food was lawful to the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before the Law was revealed. Say,"Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth."
94. If any after this, invent a lie and attribute it to Allah, they are indeed unjust wrongdoers.
The Family of Imran 3:92-94
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Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth.
92. By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give of which you love. And whatever you give, of a truth Allah knows it well.
93. All food was lawful to the children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for itself, before the Law was revealed. Say,"Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth."
94. If any after this, invent a lie and attribute it to Allah, they are indeed unjust wrongdoers.
The Family of Imran 3:92-94
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Bring you the Law and study it, if you be men of truth.
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