In the name of Allah. most Gracious, most Merciful.
5. Has not the story reached you, of those who rejected Faith aforetime? So they tasted the evil result of their conduct, and they had a grievous Penalty.
6. That was because there came to them messengers with Clear Signs, but they said: "Shall human beings direct us?" So they rejected and turned away, but Allah can do without: and Allah is Free of all needs, Worthy of all praise.
7. The unbelievers think that they will not be raised up. Say, "Yea, by my Lord, you shall surely be raised up. Then you shall be told of all that you did, and that is easy for Allah."
The mutual loss and gain 64:7-9
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Yea, by my Lord, you shall surely be raised up. Then you shall be told of all that you did, and that is easy for Allah.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Qur'an 20080621
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
5. The similitude of those who were charged with the Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those, is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes. Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah; and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
6. Say, "O you who stand on Judaism! If you think you are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of mankind, then express your desire for death, if you are truthful!"
7. But never will they express their desire, because of what their hands have sent on before them! And Allah knows well those who do wrong!
8. Say, "The death from which you flee will truly overtake you. Then will you be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open, and God will tell you the things that you did!"
9. O you who believe! When prayer is proclaimed on Friday, hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah and leave off business. That is best for you, if you only knew!
10. And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah often, that you may prosper!
11. But when they see some bargain or some amusement,they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say, "That from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide!"
Friday 62:5-11
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O you who stand on Judaism! If you think you are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of mankind, then express your desire for death, if you are truthful!
The death from which you flee will truly overtake you. Then will you be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open, and God will tell you the things that you did!
That from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide!
There are reasons Allah commanded mass prayer on Friday afternoon, the busiest time of the week. One is to show humanity that prayer is more important than business. In some countries, Friday is a public holiday, so it isn't the busiest time of the week!
When I was younger, I was engrossed in career, and earning money thereof. I believed that God would excuse me for missing prayer, because I was busy trying to earn a living. My materialism came at great cost to me, not just spiritually, but caused me much physical damage as well. My mother urged me to be stricter in prayer, and she was right. Thanks, Mom! It turns out that by being stricter in prayer earned me more power and respect from humans, and more importantly, more reward from God, and made my Islam stronger. I had to struggle hard for my right to pray regularly, when I'm supposed to. BUT IT WAS BETTER FOR ME!
5. The similitude of those who were charged with the Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those, is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes. Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah; and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
6. Say, "O you who stand on Judaism! If you think you are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of mankind, then express your desire for death, if you are truthful!"
7. But never will they express their desire, because of what their hands have sent on before them! And Allah knows well those who do wrong!
8. Say, "The death from which you flee will truly overtake you. Then will you be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open, and God will tell you the things that you did!"
9. O you who believe! When prayer is proclaimed on Friday, hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah and leave off business. That is best for you, if you only knew!
10. And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah often, that you may prosper!
11. But when they see some bargain or some amusement,they disperse headlong to it, and leave thee standing. Say, "That from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide!"
Friday 62:5-11
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O you who stand on Judaism! If you think you are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of mankind, then express your desire for death, if you are truthful!
The death from which you flee will truly overtake you. Then will you be sent back to the Knower of things secret and open, and God will tell you the things that you did!
That from the Presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the Best to provide!
There are reasons Allah commanded mass prayer on Friday afternoon, the busiest time of the week. One is to show humanity that prayer is more important than business. In some countries, Friday is a public holiday, so it isn't the busiest time of the week!
When I was younger, I was engrossed in career, and earning money thereof. I believed that God would excuse me for missing prayer, because I was busy trying to earn a living. My materialism came at great cost to me, not just spiritually, but caused me much physical damage as well. My mother urged me to be stricter in prayer, and she was right. Thanks, Mom! It turns out that by being stricter in prayer earned me more power and respect from humans, and more importantly, more reward from God, and made my Islam stronger. I had to struggle hard for my right to pray regularly, when I'm supposed to. BUT IT WAS BETTER FOR ME!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Qur'an 20080509
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
30. Or do they say, "A poet! We await for him some calamity by time!"
31. Say thou, "Await ye! I too will wait along with you!"
32. Is it that their faculties of understanding urge them to this, or are they but a people transgressing beyond bounds?
33. Or do they say, "He fabricated this?" Nay, they have no faith!
34. Let them produce a recital like unto it, if they speak the truth!
The Mountain 52:30-34
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Await ye! I too will wait along with you!
One of the Evidences of the Divine Nature of the Qur'an is its inability to be mimicked. The ancient Arabs were a society of poets, and they tried their best to mimic the Qur'an, but to no avail. Now, what you, the reader here, are seeing is a translation into English of a few verses of the Qur'an. Ancient Arabic, with its vowel and grammar system, is very meticulous, and complex. Add a complex rhyme, rhythm and story system to that. Add a comprehensive legal structure to that. Add great density, and manipulation of time to that. A pure translation of the Qur'an is near impossible, let alone an imitation.
I find it easiest to understand the Qur'an as a Book of Law, in which to live my life with. But it's much more than that- often I find that the Qur'an lives, and breathes. But only God knows the meaning of all this Qur'an.
30. Or do they say, "A poet! We await for him some calamity by time!"
31. Say thou, "Await ye! I too will wait along with you!"
32. Is it that their faculties of understanding urge them to this, or are they but a people transgressing beyond bounds?
33. Or do they say, "He fabricated this?" Nay, they have no faith!
34. Let them produce a recital like unto it, if they speak the truth!
The Mountain 52:30-34
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Await ye! I too will wait along with you!
One of the Evidences of the Divine Nature of the Qur'an is its inability to be mimicked. The ancient Arabs were a society of poets, and they tried their best to mimic the Qur'an, but to no avail. Now, what you, the reader here, are seeing is a translation into English of a few verses of the Qur'an. Ancient Arabic, with its vowel and grammar system, is very meticulous, and complex. Add a complex rhyme, rhythm and story system to that. Add a comprehensive legal structure to that. Add great density, and manipulation of time to that. A pure translation of the Qur'an is near impossible, let alone an imitation.
I find it easiest to understand the Qur'an as a Book of Law, in which to live my life with. But it's much more than that- often I find that the Qur'an lives, and breathes. But only God knows the meaning of all this Qur'an.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Death of a clown
There was a clown, who worked as a mascot for a baseball team. The team was successful, thus the clown was wealthy. He was gay, and he was a transvestite clown. He and his gay lover would make a mess of his nice house, and expect the servants to clean it up. He would wear very short skirts with no underwear, and allow his urine to stain his clothes after he used the bathroom. Then he would go straight to work at the stadium, slapping hands with the crowd waiting in line. Everybody knew him! As he entered the gate, the crowd and the gatekeeper would say, "Hello Clown!" Even as he got older, and uglier, and started to dress more modestly, he was still very popular. One day the gatekeeper saw him at the gate, and said "Hello Clown! You look much younger today!" But the Clown happened to be a faceless man with a mask, and he said, "No! The Clown is dead! I'm just emulating my hero!" The Clown was very famous.
Every time the Clown went to work, he would go high up the stairs into the bleachers, because there were many people and cameras there. The crowd would cheer him on, as he made them laugh. One day, he saw some nicer seats downstairs, so he descended, and it turned out to be the Presidential Booth. He wanted to play a joke on the President, so the Clown stuck his head out from the seats above the booth, and surprised the President. The President got angry, and started to swear, and shook his fist at the Clown. The crowd thought it was very funny, so the Clown turned the incident into a routine, using his gay lover to reprise the role of President.
One day the Clown descended to the seats below, and found a basketball. He had never played basketball before, so he became curious, and began to bounce the ball. Some people upstairs started to cheer him on, and threw down some change and peanuts. The Clown threw the change and peanuts back, and it fell into their drinking cups, without missing a single one! It was then that the Clown discovered that he was good at basketball. He tried for a career in basketball, but everyone he turned to said, "No, we don't want you to play basketball because you're too old, and everyone likes you as a gay clown who is a mascot for the baseball team. It doesn't matter if you're good at basketball or not."
One day, the Clown did his Presidential Booth routine, and he descended down to surprise his gay lover. But he wasn't there. Instead, there was a stadium official sitting there. He said to the Clown, "Your gay lover is dead. Didn't you know?" The Clown didn't.
Every time the Clown went to work, he would go high up the stairs into the bleachers, because there were many people and cameras there. The crowd would cheer him on, as he made them laugh. One day, he saw some nicer seats downstairs, so he descended, and it turned out to be the Presidential Booth. He wanted to play a joke on the President, so the Clown stuck his head out from the seats above the booth, and surprised the President. The President got angry, and started to swear, and shook his fist at the Clown. The crowd thought it was very funny, so the Clown turned the incident into a routine, using his gay lover to reprise the role of President.
One day the Clown descended to the seats below, and found a basketball. He had never played basketball before, so he became curious, and began to bounce the ball. Some people upstairs started to cheer him on, and threw down some change and peanuts. The Clown threw the change and peanuts back, and it fell into their drinking cups, without missing a single one! It was then that the Clown discovered that he was good at basketball. He tried for a career in basketball, but everyone he turned to said, "No, we don't want you to play basketball because you're too old, and everyone likes you as a gay clown who is a mascot for the baseball team. It doesn't matter if you're good at basketball or not."
One day, the Clown did his Presidential Booth routine, and he descended down to surprise his gay lover. But he wasn't there. Instead, there was a stadium official sitting there. He said to the Clown, "Your gay lover is dead. Didn't you know?" The Clown didn't.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Qur'an 20080429
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
13. O mankind! We created you from of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full Knowledge, and is Well Acquainted.
14. The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "You have no faith, but you say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."
15. Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and God's Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: such are the sincere ones.
16. Say, "What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things."
17. They impress on thee as a favor that they have embraced Islam. Say, "Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere."
18. Verily Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and Allah sees well all that you do.
The Chambers 49:13-18
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You have no faith, but you say, "We have submitted our wills to Allah," for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful.
What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things.
Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere.
Verse 13 is a confirmation of the various races and nations of humankind, the reason being that we may gain knowledge of and from each other. Righteousness has no gender, race or nation: it is simply the best of humanity. Some of those who profess "faith", just do with words. But if they back up their words with obedience to the laws set forth by Allah in the Qur'an, and the genuine teachings of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), then Allah will treat them with Mercy.
Sincere righteousness is not just a "leap of faith", but a "leap of faith with all-out-abandon". Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Even in my wanderings, I have never left You, insyaAllah! And the music that You gave me; even in its experimentation, is from data that You granted upon me. I gave You, and the music You gave me, everything I had, until all I have left are the bags I am able to carry on my back. Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Please forgive me for my weakness, for without You, I would have never got this far. The music that You gave me is my mission: please make my mission a success, and please make me conduct my mission with sincere righteousness.
13. O mankind! We created you from of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full Knowledge, and is Well Acquainted.
14. The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "You have no faith, but you say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."
15. Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and God's Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: such are the sincere ones.
16. Say, "What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things."
17. They impress on thee as a favor that they have embraced Islam. Say, "Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere."
18. Verily Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and Allah sees well all that you do.
The Chambers 49:13-18
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You have no faith, but you say, "We have submitted our wills to Allah," for not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and God's Messenger, God will not belittle aught of your deeds, for Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful.
What! Will you instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth. Allah has full knowledge of all things.
Count not your Islam as a favor upon me. Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that God has guided you to the Faith, if you be true and sincere.
Verse 13 is a confirmation of the various races and nations of humankind, the reason being that we may gain knowledge of and from each other. Righteousness has no gender, race or nation: it is simply the best of humanity. Some of those who profess "faith", just do with words. But if they back up their words with obedience to the laws set forth by Allah in the Qur'an, and the genuine teachings of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), then Allah will treat them with Mercy.
Sincere righteousness is not just a "leap of faith", but a "leap of faith with all-out-abandon". Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Even in my wanderings, I have never left You, insyaAllah! And the music that You gave me; even in its experimentation, is from data that You granted upon me. I gave You, and the music You gave me, everything I had, until all I have left are the bags I am able to carry on my back. Ya Allah! You are my Witness! Please forgive me for my weakness, for without You, I would have never got this far. The music that You gave me is my mission: please make my mission a success, and please make me conduct my mission with sincere righteousness.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Qur'an 20080424
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
15. Those who lagged behind: "When you march and take booty, permit us to follow you." They wish to change Allah's decree. Say, "Not thus will you follow us. Allah has already declared beforehand." Then they will say, "But you are jealous of us!" Nay, but little do they understand.
16. Say to the desert Arabs who lagged behind, "You shall be summoned to fight against a people given to vehement war. Then shall you fight, or they shall submit. Then if you show obedience, Allah will grant you a goodly reward, but if you turn back as you did before, God will punish you with a Grievous Penalty."
17. No blame is there on the blind, nor is there blame on the lame, nor on one ill. But he that obeys Allah and God's Messenger.... Will admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow. And he who turns back.... Will punish him with a Grievous Penalty.
The Victory 48:15-17
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Not thus will you follow us. Allah has already declared beforehand.
You shall be summoned to fight against a people given to vehement war. Then shall you fight, or they shall submit. Then if you show obedience, Allah will grant you a goodly reward, but if you turn back as you did before, God will punish you with a Grievous Penalty.
15. Those who lagged behind: "When you march and take booty, permit us to follow you." They wish to change Allah's decree. Say, "Not thus will you follow us. Allah has already declared beforehand." Then they will say, "But you are jealous of us!" Nay, but little do they understand.
16. Say to the desert Arabs who lagged behind, "You shall be summoned to fight against a people given to vehement war. Then shall you fight, or they shall submit. Then if you show obedience, Allah will grant you a goodly reward, but if you turn back as you did before, God will punish you with a Grievous Penalty."
17. No blame is there on the blind, nor is there blame on the lame, nor on one ill. But he that obeys Allah and God's Messenger.... Will admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow. And he who turns back.... Will punish him with a Grievous Penalty.
The Victory 48:15-17
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Not thus will you follow us. Allah has already declared beforehand.
You shall be summoned to fight against a people given to vehement war. Then shall you fight, or they shall submit. Then if you show obedience, Allah will grant you a goodly reward, but if you turn back as you did before, God will punish you with a Grievous Penalty.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Qur'an 20080423
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
11. The desert Arabs who lagged behind will say to thee, "We were engaged in our flocks and herds, and our families, do thou then ask forgiveness for us?" They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, "Who then has any power in your behalf with Allah, if God's Will is to give you some loss, or to give you some profit? But Allah is well acquainted with all that you do."
12. Nay, you thought that the Messenger and the Believers would never return to their families. This seemed pleasing to your hearts, and you conceived an evil thought, for you are a people lost.
13. And if any believe not in Allah and God's Messenger, We have prepared for the unbelievers, a blazing Fire!
14. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. God forgives whom God wills, and God punishes whom God wills; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.
The Victory 48:11-14
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Who then has any power in your behalf with Allah, if God's Will is to give you some loss, or to give you some profit? But Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.
Generally, human nature is to "catch up to" mistakes. This includes wrongs done to another person, by asking that person for mercy. The righteous person must try to forgive. God is the best at granting Forgiveness, but there are some things that God does not forgive.
In the Qur'an, we can find Allah complaining about the Arabs several times. Being that the Qur'an is in Arabic, the prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was an Arab, his mission was to the Arab people, and all the stuff going on in that area nowadays, it should be easy to guess why. But let's not be prejudiced. People are both good and evil, whether it be Arab, non-Arab, male, female, black, white, brown, yellow, pink or whatever. God knows your intentions, and can make your intentions manifest to everyone. Be sincere in righteousness.
11. The desert Arabs who lagged behind will say to thee, "We were engaged in our flocks and herds, and our families, do thou then ask forgiveness for us?" They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, "Who then has any power in your behalf with Allah, if God's Will is to give you some loss, or to give you some profit? But Allah is well acquainted with all that you do."
12. Nay, you thought that the Messenger and the Believers would never return to their families. This seemed pleasing to your hearts, and you conceived an evil thought, for you are a people lost.
13. And if any believe not in Allah and God's Messenger, We have prepared for the unbelievers, a blazing Fire!
14. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. God forgives whom God wills, and God punishes whom God wills; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.
The Victory 48:11-14
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Who then has any power in your behalf with Allah, if God's Will is to give you some loss, or to give you some profit? But Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.
Generally, human nature is to "catch up to" mistakes. This includes wrongs done to another person, by asking that person for mercy. The righteous person must try to forgive. God is the best at granting Forgiveness, but there are some things that God does not forgive.
In the Qur'an, we can find Allah complaining about the Arabs several times. Being that the Qur'an is in Arabic, the prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was an Arab, his mission was to the Arab people, and all the stuff going on in that area nowadays, it should be easy to guess why. But let's not be prejudiced. People are both good and evil, whether it be Arab, non-Arab, male, female, black, white, brown, yellow, pink or whatever. God knows your intentions, and can make your intentions manifest to everyone. Be sincere in righteousness.
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