WHAT IS ISLAM? (very short description for Islam)

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Can we find an explanation of the great universe? Is there any convincing interpretation of the secret of existence? We realize that no family can function properly without a responsible head, that no city can prosperously exist without sound administration, and that no state can survive without a leader of some kind. We also realize that nothing comes into being on its own. Moreover, we observe that the universe exists and functions in the most orderly manner, and that it has survived for hundreds of thousand of years. Can we then say that all this is accidental and haphazard? Can we attribute the existence of man and the whole world to mere chance.

Man represents only a very small portion of the great universe. And if he can make plans and appreciate the merits of planning, then his own existence and the survival of the universe must also be a planned policy. This means that there is an extraordinary power to bring things into being and keep them moving in order.

In the world then must be a great force in action to keep everything in order. In the beautiful nature there must be a Great creator who creates the most charming pieces of art produces every thing for a special purpose in life. The deeply enlightened people recognize this creator and call him Allah “God”. He is not a man because no man can create or make another man. He is not an animal, nor he is a plant. He is neither an Idol nor is He a statue of any kind because non of these things can make itself or create anything else. He is different from all these things because he is the maker and keeper of them all. The maker of anything must be different from and greater than things which he makes.

There are various ways to know God “ALLAH” and there are many things to tell about him. The great wonders and impressive marvels of the world are like open books in which we can read about God. Besides, God Himself comes to our aid through the many Messengers and revelations He has sent down to man. These Messengers and revelations tell us everything we need to know about God.

The complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God ‘Allah’ as revealed to His Messengers Muhammad is the religion of Islam. Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of Allah, which makes man aware of meaningfulness of the Universe and of his place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of man’s obligations towards Him. This faith must be expressed and tested in actions, faith alone is not enough. Belief in one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the universal Omnipotence of God the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam rejects the idea of chosen people, making belief in God and good actions the only way to heaven. Thus, a direct relationship in established with God, without any intercessor.

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all Prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, David, Moses and Jesus (PBUT). But the message which was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUT) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.

The Quran is the last revealed word of Allah and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. The Quran deals with the basis of creeds, morality, history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-man relationship, and human relationship in all aspects. Comprehensive teaching on which, can be built sound systems of social justice, economics, politics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations, are important contents of the Quran. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUT), meticulously reported and collected by his devoted companions. Explained and elaborated the Quranic verses.

THE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH IN ISLAM

The true faithful Muslim believes in the following Principal articles of faith:-

1. He believes in One God ‘Allah’, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider.
2. He believes in all Messengers of God without any discrimination among them. Every known nation had a warner or Messenger from God. They were chosen by God to teach mankind and deliver His divine message. The Quran mentions the name of twenty five of them. Among them Mohammad stands as the last Messenger and the crowning glory of the foundation of Prophethood.
3. Muslin believes in all scriptures and revelations of God. They were the guiding light which the Messengers received to show their respected peoples the Right Path of God. In the Quran a special reference is made to the books of Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. But long before the revelations has been lost or corrupted. The only authentic and complete book of God in existence in the Quran.
4. The true Muslim believes in the Angels of Allah. They are purely spiritual and splendid beings whose nature requires on food, drink or sleep. They spend their days and nights in the worship of God.
5. Muslim believes in the last Day of Judgement. This world will come to an end someday, and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. People with good records will be generously, rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Heaven of Allah, and those with bad records will be punished and cast into Hell.
6. Muslim believes in the timeless knowledge of God and His power to plan and execute His planes and nothing could happen in His Kingdom against His will. His knowledge and power are in action at all times and command over His creation. He is wise and merciful, and whatever He does must have a meaningful purpose. If this is established in our mind and hearts, we should accept with good faith all that He does, although we may fail to under stand it fully, or think it is bad.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Faith without actions arid practice is a dead end, as far as Islam is concerned. Faith by nature is very sensitive and can be most effective. When it is not out of practice or out of use, it quickly loses its liveliness and motivation power.

There are five pillars of Islam:

1. The declaration of faith: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad (PBUH) is His Messenger to all human beings till the Day of Judgment. The Prophethood of Mohammad obliges the Muslims to follow, His exemplary life as a model.
2. Prayers: Daily, prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong – doings and evil.
3. Fasting the month of Ramadan. The Muslims during the month of Ramadan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset but also sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and will – Power.
4. Zakkah: The literal and simple meaning of Zakkah is purity. The technical meaning of this word designates the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. But the religious and spiritual significance of Zakkah is much deeper and more lively. So it has humanitarian and sociopolitical values.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): It is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically.

I was about to kill my blog twice, but … !

Being a busy university student does not give you the plenty time you wish to do all what you like. One of the things I like is blogging.

Actually I opened this blog because it was a 2% weight of a course called e-commerce. The instructor told us to write 2 entries at least per week, one of them must be e-commerce or technology related and the other one is up to you. First I considered this a homework assignment that should be done whether you liked it or not, but soon I liked blogging itself and I was about to become a blogging addicted.

Day after day, week after week  and month after month I built a reasonable readership and started to receive more comments and views in the blog. However, I went through times where I was busy , do not have a time to write or do not have something to write. Views on the blog dropped down dramatically and I asked my self ” why don’t you stop blogging since there is no many people interested in what you write – especially that English is a second language for me -”?. When I took a knife to kill my blog I received this comment:

“
Your blog is interesting!

Keep up the good work!

“

 

 

So, I put the knife down and said ” Heeee , there some people waiting for what you write, don’t let them down”.

I started working hard again and my blog’s market share went up again and the river flowed again. The saver was AlexM in the post “More Than 40 Hadiths for Women“. So AlexM thank you for saving the blog.

However, like economy , the recession period came again and the same thoughts / feelings. After thinking for a while I took the knife again. When I aimed it to the blog another saver came out by this comment:

“
Hi. I am a long time reader. I wanted to say that I like your blog and the layout.

Peter Quinn
“

Yes, Peter  you saved the blog in the post “The International Financial System Crisis in the Perspective of the Islamic Economy” , so thank you too. Your action was like the butterfly effect theory, where the butterfly wings movement can stop a tornado!

Many things in life are really like this. YOUR action – regardless if you consider it huge or negligible – influences directly or indirectly. The effects may not come into your mind but this happened throughout history and still happening.
The questions in mind at the end

Why are we so lazy to say ” I appreciate it ” if we  appreciate things or people?

Why are we misers in our words?

Why do we like to “take” more than we “give” ?

How many times did we participate in killing others efforts?

How long does it take for us to say or write “keep it up” or “your doing well” – when we really see some good  work- ?

or in other words, why don’t we comment ?

Many questions, but, will the answers be ……. ?

 

 

 

The International Financial System Crisis in the Perspective of the Islamic Economy

Prepared by:

 

Dr. Husain Husain Shahata

Professor in Al-Azhar University

Consultant Expert in the Islamic Financial Transactions 

 

 

 

Relative Verses from the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Traditions

 

Allah The Almighty Said:

{Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners} (Al-Baqara: 276).

 

{That which ye give in usury in order that it may increase on (other) people’s property hath no increase with Allah; but that which ye give in charity, seeking Allah’s Countenance, hath increase manifold}(Ar-Rum: 39).

 

The Prophet – Peace be upon him – said:

((If adultery and usury “Riba” prevail in any country, Allah The Almighty will destroy it)).

[Narrated by Abu Ya'la from Abdullah bin Masoud].

 

((When any people deal with usury “Riba” lunacy will appear in their society))

 

 

 

 

Index

 

Introduction to Signs of Collapse in New International Economic System.

The International Financial System Crisis Aspects

The Main Reasons Behind the International Financial System Crisis.

The Opinion of the Islamic Economy regarding The International Financial System Crisis.

Stability & Security Rules in the Islamic Economy.

The Method of Overcoming the Crisis by Applying the Islamic Economy Rules & Regulations.

Summary: The Islamic Economy Rules & Regulations are the Only Way for Salvation.

Call for the Economists & Businessmen.

Call for the Muslims in General.

 

Finally, All Praise Be to Allah The Almighty.

 

  

Introduction:

The economists of the man-made economy have predicted the collapse signs of the socialist economic system because of its concepts & principles which contradict the human nature and conflict with the Islamic rules & regulations. Similarly, the economists of the capitalist economic system have predicted the collapse signs thereof because of its concepts & principles which contradict the orders of Allah The Almighty and undermines the values & morals. It is relies upon the monopoly and the usury interests (Credit and loans against interest) which are the most vicious evil in the Earth and the motive behind worshiping money, controlling the borrowers by the lenders, restricting their freedom, stealing their business & homes and causing dangerous social & economic effects.

 

Many people are asking themselves:

What are the reasons behind the International Financial Crisis?

What are the reasons behind the bankruptcy of the banks dealing, selling and purchasing loans & debits?

What are the reasons behind the bankruptcy of the large companies taking finance from the banks under the interest system? Is it expected to confront a new international stagnancy under capitalism and its tools like globalism and interest system?

Moreover, many Arab and Muslim people are asking themselves about the perspective of the Islamic economy & banks for this crisis?

 

These inquires and questions will be the substance of our study from the Islamic Economy point of view.

 

Aspects of the International Financial System Crisis

The signs & symbols of collapse in the International Financial System emerged and caused panic, fear and worry for the money-makes & wealthy people, left the financial institutions & brokers confused in setting up the salvation plans and made the governmental officials afraid of losing their positions and calling for the scientists, specialists and experts to find the way out.

 

Here are few examples about the financial crisis signs:

The hurry in withdrawing the deposits from the banks because the capital is coward as stated by the mass media.

Several financial institutions have stopped giving loans to the companies & individuals fearing the difficulty of recovery.

Shortage of liquidity negotiated by individuals, companies and financial institutions and this caused a severe deflation in the economic activity and all other aspects of life and made the borrowers unable to repay their debts.

Drop of the negotiations in the financial markets and the resulted confusion of rise and fall indexes.

The decrease of power level used by the companies due to the shortage in liquidity and freezing the loans by the financial institutions except under high interest rates and difficult guarantees.

The decrease of sales, especially in the real estates, cars and other sectors due to the low liquidity.

The increase of unemployment levels due to the bankruptcy and liquidation, and every employee or worker fears dismissal.

The increase demand for the social subsidies from the governments.

The decrease of consumption, spending, saving and investment levels which caused stagnancy, unemployment, liquidation and bankruptcy.

 

All this invite us to ask: What are the main & real reasons behind this crisis?

 

The Main Reasons Behind the International Financial Crisis:

The right diagnosis of the crisis is the master key for finding the right remedy. It is only the accurate, right, neutral and objective view which can introduce the perfect solution for the difficult problems.

 

The famous economists worldwide, including winners of Nobel Prize like Maurice Allias, said: (The capitalist economy system is depending on certain concepts and rules which are the main cause of its collapse if not amended immediately).

 

There are several known economists predicted that the new international economic system is founded on principles leading to its failure.

 

Here are some of the reasons mentioned by them for the current crisis:

 

First: The economic morals corruption such as: monopoly, deception, the fabricated rumors, lies, fraud, exploitation and the delusive transactions which all caused injustice treatment by the wealthy people and creditors against the poor and debtors. This injustice will make the wronged people complain from injustice and the creditors will complain from debtors and the result will be social revolutions when they refrain from repaying their debts and loans.

 

Second: Money became the substance of tyranny and the weapon of the tyrants for controlling policies and taking the sovereign decisions in the world to the degree that the materialists became worshippers of money.

 

Third: The usury banking system relies on the interest rate system and operates within the frame of dealing, trading, purchasing and selling of debts. Whenever the interest rate of the deposit increases, the interest rate of the loans given to individuals and companies will increase similarly and all of this will benefit the banks and financial brokers while the borrowers will suffer injustice in paying the loans taken by them for the purpose of consumption or production. Some economists, like Adam Smith, the father of economists, said: “The real development and the rational use of the production factors will not be achieved unless the interest rate became nil” and they considered the alternative method is the system of sharing profits and losses because it enhance stability and security. They further said: “The interest rate system will make the money goes to the hands of small group of people who will control the wealth totally”.

 

Fourth: The traditional financial and banking system relies on the method of scheduling the debts against a higher interest rate or replacing the due loans with new ones of higher interest rate, exactly like what the Arab before Islam was saying: (Pay now or increase the interest rate). This process will cause additional liabilities on the borrowers who were unable to repay the first loan due to the higher rate of interest.

 

Fifth: The international financial system and the financial markets system are mainly depending on the financial derivates system which, in turn, depends on delusive transactions which, in turn, depend on probabilities & possibilities i.e. there are no true exchange of goods and services, it is just gambling and betting. Not only this, some of these transactions are depending on credits taken from the banks in the form of loans which can lead to a financial crisis in case of loss.

 

Sixth: The bad manners of the financial brokerage institutions which induce people to take loans, deceive them and exploit their ignorance to take loans from the financial institutions. They request high commissions if the risks were high and the borrower alone will bear the adverse consequences thereof and this ultimately will lead to the financial crisis.

 

Seventh: The expansions in applying the credit cards system (Overdraft) which caused high financial liabilities on the users who will bear higher interest rates if he could not repay the debt until he is put to jail, mortgage his car or house. This is exactly what happened to many holders of such cards, caused them confusions in the budget of their homes, and led finally to a crisis in certain usury banks.

 

 

The Destructive Effects of the International Financial System Crisis

Until this sensitive stage of collapse signs  in the International Financial System which suffered a severe paralysis, the following adverse effects have appeared:

 

First: The Panic, fear and confusion of all people, including:

The presidents, rulers and ministers.

Owners of the financial institutions and the in-charge of the financial markets.

Owners of the financial brokerage institutions.

Owners of the deposits in the banks and otherwise.

The borrowers from banks, the clients of banks and owners of the deposits.

The consumers who are threatened with price rise waves.

The employees and workers who are threatened of losing their positions.

The poor who are living under subsidies and charity.

This crisis became like the cancer of the blood, all the time circulating in the economic life arteries.

 

Second: Bankruptcy of some banks and financial institutions due to the lack of liquidity and the withdrawal of the deposits by its owners; consequently, some governments, through its central banks, were obliged to rescue the remainder in order to avoid the total collapse of the economic life which may cause bankruptcy to the country as a whole.

 

Third: Bankruptcy of the companies which were dealing in loans against interest and some of them stopped certain production lines and began executing the mortgages and guarantees available with it; consequently, this causes disorder in their cash flows.

 

Fourth: Losing the employment and the rise of the percentage of people who are looking for the social and governmental subsidies which, in turn, caused extra burdens on the budgets of the countries and delayed several new investment projects.

 

Fifth: Some countries have imposed more taxes in order to compensate the deficit in their budgets due to the rise of support budgets toward the companies and banks which are close to bankruptcy or to support the deposits and otherwise.

 

Sixth: The borrowers have lost their assets and homes which were mortgaged against such loans. They became homeless, helpless, poor and immigrants.

 

The Effect of the International Financial System Crisis on the Islamic Economy & Islamic Banks:

Many people are asking themselves: What are the effects of the international financial system crisis on the Islamic banks, Islamic financial institutions, the Islamic investments and the Islamic finance institutions?

The opinions of the Islamic economists and the experts of the Islamic institutions should not just react to the financial and banking international crisis; contrary, they should highlight the Islamic economy rules and regulations and demonstrate the applications thereof by ensuring that such crisis was a natural result for the incompliance with the Islamic economy rules and regulations. We will take this topic in detail in the following paragraph and will concentrate on the rules of security and stability in the Islamic financial and economic system which guarantees avoiding such crisis.

 

The Rules & Regulations of the Security & Stability in the Islamic Economy:

The Islamic financial and economic system and its financial institutions are relying on several regulations which guarantee stability & security and reduce the risks resulting from the man-made regulations which rely upon the interest system and the financial derivates. Here are the most important Rules & Regulations:

 

First: The Islamic financial and economic system depends on set of values, virtues and morals like: trust, credibility, transparency, clearness, facilitation, cooperation, integrity and solidarity. This set of values and morals are the main guarantee for achieving the security and stability for all clients. The Islamic Sharia prohibits the financial and economic transactions which depend on deception, lies, gambling, fraud, prejudice, ignorance, exploitation, monopoly, greediness, injustice and taking the money of people wrongfully. The compliance with the Islamic morals and values is considered a worship to Allah The Almighty which entails reward from Allah and regulates the manners of the Muslim, whether he was producer or consumer, seller or buyer, and whether in case of activity or stagnancy, stability or instability.

 

Second: The Islamic financial and economic system depends on the principle of sharing profits and losses and the actual negotiation and exchange of money and assets under the Islamic regulations which ensure realizing the permissible benefits, the actual interaction between the businessmen, money makers, and expert and working under the rules of justice, right and exert all-out efforts to reduce the severity of any crisis; therefore, there is no party who is always winner and there is no party who is always loser; it is the just sharing of profits and losses.

 

The economists and scientists of the Islamic economy have set up a group of Islamic investment and finance contracts abiding with the Islamic regulations, such as: finance by way of speculation, sharing, Murabaha, Istesna’, Salam, Ijara, Muzara’a, Musaqa and otherwise (for more information, kind visit the website of Dar Al Mashora www.Darelmashora.com).

 

The Islamic Sharia has prohibited all finance contracts by way of investment depending on the loans and interests which are considered one of the main reasons behind the current international financial crisis.

 

Third: The Islamic Sharia has prohibited the financial derivates which depend on delusive transactions, prejudice and ignorance. The scientists of the Islamic economy considered such transactions as prohibited gambling.

 

Moreover, the experts and scientists of the man-made economy confirmed that one of the reasons of the international financial crisis is the financial derivates system because it does not motivate or create actual economic development; contrary, it is a bad mean for earning money and causes inflation & rise in prices. Consequently, this will cause bad morals and will accelerate the collapse of the financial institutions which depend on such system, exactly like what happened to the markets of East Asia countries.

 

Fourth: The Islamic Sharia has prohibited all kinds & forms of selling debts against debts, like: discounting bills and the post date cheques. Moreover, the Islamic Sharia has prohibited the system of re-scheduling the debts against increasing the interest rate. The Prophet – Peace be upon him – prevented selling debts against debts.

 

Moreover, the experts and scientists of the man-made economy confirmed that one of the reasons of the international financial crisis is trading in debts by certain financial brokerage companies.

 

Fifth: The Islamic financial and economic system is depending on the principle of facilitating the repayment by the debtor who is not able to repay for reasons beyond his control. Allah The Almighty said: {And if the debtor is in a hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay, but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but know} (Al-Baqara: 280).

The experts and scientists of the man-made economy emphasized that one of the main reasons behind this financial crisis is the inability of the debtor to repay, increasing the interest rate by the creditor or revolve the loans with higher interest rate or against mortgage on the debtor, then the creditor will leave the debtor homeless, helpless and will cause social and human difficulties causing several psychological, social, political and economic problems.

 

Applying the Islamic Economy Rules & Regulations is the only Way Out of This Crisis:

The results of analyzing the current financial crisis demonstrated that the crisis was the outcome of the following man-made regulations:

The interest system (Riba) on the deposits and paying interests on the loans.

Trading in debts.

Scheduling the debts by increasing the interest rates against increasing the repayment period.

Debts sale system.

The financial derivates system which depends on the probability and luck.

 

The Islamic economy, with financial institutions and banks, prohibits all of these systems which were the main reasons behind the current crisis and the main source of contradiction with the natural attitudes of the human being and their legal rights.

 

The Islamic Sharia has prohibited the system of imposing interests on the loans and credits and permitted the finance and investment on the basis of profits and losses sharing.

 

The Islamic Sharia has further prohibited all forms of prejudice, ignorance, deception, fraud, lies, rumors, exploitation, monopoly, taking the money of people wrongfully and emphasized on honesty, trust, clearness, demonstration and transparency.

 

Summary: The Rules & Regulations of the Islamic Economy are the Only Way Out of the Crisis

When the people comply with the rules and regulations of the Islamic Economy they will find their way out of this serious crisis. Allah The Almighty Said: {if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery * But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders, etc.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection}(Taha: 123, 124. He said also: {Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners} (Al-Baqara: 276).

 

A Call to the Economists, Money-Makers & Businessmen

To the scientists, experts and judges who wish to reform the man-made financial and economic systems which caused the misery & misfortune to the human beings and caused serious crisis every time and then, hurry up to the Islamic Sharia, the Islamic rules and regulations, the religion of guidance, mercy and charity. Allah the Almighty said: {Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad PBUH) and a plain Book (this Quran) * Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism)}(Al-Ma’eda: 15, 16).

 

To the economists, money-makers and businessmen, hurry up to the Islamic Economy, its rules and regulations. It is the only way for security, stability, prosperity and development. Avoid dealing in Riba (usury & interests) which is the most vicious evil in the financial and economic transactions so that you can spare yourselves the consequences of the war with Allah The Almighty & His Messenger. Allah said: {O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers * And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums)} (Baqara: 278, 279).

 

To those who wish to reform the international banking system, hurry up to the Islamic banking system. The scientists and economists confirmed the failure of the international banks which deal with usury and interests. Allah the Almighty Said:

{Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners} (Al-Baqara: 276).

The Prophet – Peace be upon him – said: (If adultery and usury “Riba” prevail in any country, Allah The Almighty will destroy it)). [Narrated by Abu Ya'la from Abdullah bin Masoud].

 

A Call to All Muslims

To the people who are confused in their life, straying in darkness of the nights, hurry up to Islam again.

To those who wish to reform society and get rid of its problems, difficulties and rescue it, hurry up to Islam.

To those who are standing at the door of reform and hesitant about the right way to be taken, hurry up to Islam.

To those who were confused with means and lost their aims, hurry up to Islam, it is the right way.

To those who spent their life in fruitless experiments under the instructions of hesitant minds and confused thinking, hurry up to Islam.

To those sincere & faithful people, hurry up to Islam. 

 

To all of you, I address this Quranic Call:

Allah The Almighty Said: {O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad SAW ) and a plain Book (this Quran) * Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism)} (Al-Ma’eda: 15, 16).

 

 

Source: http://www.rasoulallah.net/subject_en.asp?hit=1&parent_id=350&sub_id=6924

Mahatma Gandhi opinion about the Prophet Muhmmad PBUH

Speaking on the character of Muhammad (pbuh), Mahatma Gandhi says in (Young India*)

“I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind….I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life.”

 

*Young India was a journal published in English by  Mahatma Gandhi

Are Muslim Women Oppressed?

Among the many topics of interest to non-Muslims, the status of Muslim women and the theme of their rights — or rather, the perceived lack of them – seems to be foremost.  The media’s portrayal of Muslim women,   usually outlining their “oppression and mystery” seems to contribute to this negative perception.

 

The main reason for this is that people often fail to distinguish between culture and religion — two things that are completely different. In fact, Islam condemns oppression of any kind whether it is towards a woman or humankind in general.The Quran is the sacred book by which Muslims live. This book was revealed 1400 years ago to a man named Muhammad –peace be upon him-, who would later become the Prophet –peace be upon him-. Fourteen centuries have passed and this book has not been changed since, not one letter has been altered.

 

In chapter 33, entitled Surah Al-Ahzaab (The Clans), verse 59 Allah The Exalted Almighty Says (what means):

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the woman of the believers to bring down over themselves (part) of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known (as free respectable women) and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran 33:59]

This verse shows that Islam makes wearing a Hijaab necessary. Hijaab is the word used for covering, not only the headscarves (as some people may think) but also wearing loose clothes that are not too bright.Sometimes, people see covered Muslim women and they think of this as oppression. This is wrong. A Muslim woman is not oppressed, in fact, she is liberated. This is because she is no longer valued for something material, such as her good looks or the shape of her body. She compels others to judge her for her intelligence, kindness, honesty and personality. Therefore, people judge her for who she actually is.

 

When Muslim women cover their hair and wear loose clothes, they are obeying the orders of their Lord to be modest, not cultural or social mores. In fact, Christian nuns cover their hair out of modesty, yet no one considers them “oppressed”. By following the command of Allah, Muslim women are doing the exact same thing.

 

 

 

 

 

The lives of the people who responded to the Quran have changed drastically. It had a tremendous impact on so many people, especially women, since this was the first time that the souls of man and women were declared equal — with the same obligations as well as the same rewards.For the first time in history, women were granted economic independence in Islam. The money they bring in to marriage is theirs as well as the money they earn. In Islam, women are allowed to choose their own husbands and in extreme cases, ask for divorce. A woman has the right to be educated, contrary to what the contemporary world might think. The responsibility is that of the person who is raising her.

 

Islam is a religion that holds women in high regard. Long ago, when baby boys were born, they brought great joy to the family. The birth of a girl was greeted with considerably less joy and enthusiasm. Sometimes, girls were hated so much that they were buried alive. Islam has always been against this irrational discrimination against girls and female infanticide.

 

 

 

The Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, said: “Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim (male and female).”

Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.While maintenance of their homes, providing support to the husband and bearing, raising and teaching children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so. However, this is allowed only as long as her family obligations are met and as long as she complies with the Islamic code of dress and conduct, with no intermingling with men in the workplace.

 

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This differentiation in no way diminishes the effort or benefit of one gender over the other. God will reward both genders equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be within the same sphere of activity.

The two great roles a woman plays in life are that of a wife and a mother. The Prophet –peace be upon him-, once said to a group of Companions:

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, said: “Heaven lies under the feet of mothers.” This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers who raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.

A man came to the Prophet, PBUH, and asked: “Who among my kinfolk is worthy of my good companionship?” The Prophet –peace be upon him-, replied: “Your mother” three times before saying: “Your father.”

This indicates the impact that a mother has in a person’s life. So women are highly honored in this great religion. Islam is a religion that treats women fairly. The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy even today in the West. These rights are from God and are designed to maintain a balance in society; what may seem “unjust” or “missing” in one place is compensated for or explained in another place.

“The best among you are those who are the best to their wives.” This shows that Islam highly encourages treating the wives well. They should be shown love, respect and care. To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife’s rights is to receive dowry, a gift from the husband, which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage.

The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth she may have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands.

 

 

Source: http://www.rasoulallah.net/subject_en.asp?hit=1&parent_id=82&sub_id=1823

Win-Win Negotiation; Finding a fair compromise

Win-Win Negotiation

Finding a fair compromise

 

Do you feel that someone is continually taking advantage of you? Do you seem to have to fight your corner aggressively, or ally with others, to win the resources you need? Or do you struggle to get what you want from people whose help you need, but over whom you have little direct authority? If so, you may need to brush up your win-win negotiation skills.

Effective negotiation helps you to resolve situations where what you want conflicts with what someone else wants. The aim of win-win negotiation is to find a solution that is acceptable to both parties, and leaves both parties feeling that they’ve won, in some way, after the event.

There are different styles of negotiation, depending on circumstances.

Where you do not expect to deal with people ever again and you do not need their goodwill, then it may be appropriate to “play hardball”, seeking to win a negotiation while the other person loses out. Many people go through this when they buy or sell a house – this is why house-buying can be such a confrontational and unpleasant experience.

Similarly, where there is a great deal at stake in a negotiation, then it may be appropriate to prepare in detail and legitimate “gamesmanship” to gain advantage. Anyone who has been involved with large sales negotiations will be familiar with this.

Neither of these approaches is usually much good for resolving disputes with people with whom you have an ongoing relationship: If one person plays hardball, then this disadvantages the other person – this may, quite fairly, lead to reprisal later. Similarly, using tricks and manipulation during a negotiation can undermine trust and damage teamwork. While a manipulative person may not get caught out if negotiation is infrequent, this is not the case when people work together routinely. Here, honesty and openness are almost always the best policies.

Preparing for a successful negotiation…

Depending on the scale of the disagreement, some preparation may be appropriate for conducting a successful negotiation.

For small disagreements, excessive preparation can be counter-productive because it takes time that is better used elsewhere. It can also be seen as manipulative because, just as it strengthens your position, it can weaken the other person’s.

However, if you need to resolve a major disagreement, then make sure you prepare thoroughly. Using our free worksheet, think through the following points before you start negotiating:

• Goals: what do you want to get out of the negotiation? What do you think the other person wants?

• Trades: What do you and the other person have that you can trade? What do you each have that the other wants? What are you each comfortable giving away?

• Alternatives: if you don’t reach agreement with the other person, what alternatives do you have? Are these good or bad? How much does it matter if you do not reach agreement? Does failure to reach an agreement cut you out of future opportunities? And what alternatives might the other person have?

• Relationships: what is the history of the relationship? Could or should this history impact the negotiation? Will there be any hidden issues that may influence the negotiation? How will you handle these?

• Expected outcomes: what outcome will people be expecting from this negotiation? What has the outcome been in the past, and what precedents have been set?

• The consequences: what are the consequences for you of winning or losing this negotiation? What are the consequences for the other person?

• Power: who has what power in the relationship? Who controls resources? Who stands to lose the most if agreement isn’t reached? What power does the other person have to deliver what you hope for?

• Possible solutions: based on all of the considerations, what possible compromises might there be?

Style is critical…

For a negotiation to be ‘win-win’, both parties should feel positive about the negotiation once it’s over. This helps people keep good working relationships afterwards. This governs the style of the negotiation – histrionics and displays of emotion are clearly inappropriate because they undermine the rational basis of the negotiation and because they bring a manipulative aspect to them.

Despite this, emotion can be an important subject of discussion because people’s emotional needs must fairly be met. If emotion is not discussed where it needs to be, then the agreement reached can be unsatisfactory and temporary. Be as detached as possible when discussing your own emotions – perhaps discuss them as if they belong to someone else.

Negotiating successfully…

The negotiation itself is a careful exploration of your position and the other person’s position, with the goal of finding a mutually acceptable compromise that gives you both as much of what you want as possible. People’s positions are rarely as fundamentally opposed as they may initially appear – the other person may have very different goals from the ones you expect!In an ideal situation, you will find that the other person wants what you are prepared to trade, and that you are prepared to give what the other person wants.

If this is not the case and one person must give way, then it is fair for this person to try to negotiate some form of compensation for doing so – the scale of this compensation will often depend on the many of the factors we discussed above. Ultimately, both sides should feel comfortable with the final solution if the agreement is to be considered win-win.

Only consider win-lose negotiation if you don’t need to have an ongoing relationship with the other party as, having lost, they are unlikely to want to work with you again. Equally, you should expect that if they need to fulfill some part of a deal in which you have “won,” they may be uncooperative and legalistic about the way they do this.

 

 

Source: http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/NegotiationSkills.htm

Is the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) a terrorist?

 

1- Reasons behind Describing the Prophet as a Terrorist

2- What is Terrorism?

3-The Innocence of Prophets and Messengers from Terrorism

4-A Misconception and its Falsification

5-The Difference between Terrorism and Jihad:

6-Accepting others is the Base of Religious Freedom in Islam

7-The Status of None Muslims living in Islamic Countries

 

 

Introduction

 

Praise be to Allah Who had chosen Muhammad – Messenger of Allah – the noblest among humans, and the greatest along the history of mankind. He is the leader (Imam) of the Prophets and Messengers, and the master of intercessors on the Day of Judgment. And none of the paid-for pens nor the untruthful medias can get from Him or from his religion or from his morals, after what Allah(the Almighty) said praising him : “And Verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” { Sur’at Al-Qalam, V: 4 }. This praising of the Almighty Allah to him enriches him from others’ praising  and it holds off any misconception said about him.

 

One of the Prophet’s great qualities were the ability to forgive and showing mercy towards all people. Almighty Allah says : “Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire); for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. ” { Sur’at Attawbah, V:128}. His mercy is in fact upon the whole world, Allah (the Almighty) says: “And We have sent you (O Muhammad PBUH): not but as a mercy for the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” { Sur’at Al-Anbia,V: 107 }. He named himself the “Prophet of Mercy” as he felt the importance of mercy in both his life and the Message of Islam. Abu-Musa Al-Ash’ari reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) mention to us his names: ” I am Muhammad, Ahmad, Al-Mukaffi, Al-Hashir, Prophet of repentance, and the Prophet of mercy“. Narrated by Muslim.

The surprising thing nowadays is to find some jaundices people accusing the Prophet “of mercy and peace” with harsh words which shows their complete ignorance or animosity. They described him as being a terrorist, although he is the most person far from this description (PBUH). He is the most merciful person among all humans and the farer from injustice, revenge, and hostility and the most one of them who cares about applying the lawful rules and the chastest, kindest, gentlest, and humblest human being. The Poet Ahmad Shawky was right in comparing the Prophet (PBUH) with the kindness of the parents towards their children when doing mistakes, he said: “that can be translated as: ”

 

وإذا عفوت فقادرا ومقدرا                   لا يستهين بعفوك الجهلاء

You have the power and are respected in forgiving…even clueless don’t undervalue your power of forgiving…

وإذا رحمت فأنت أم أو أب                 هذان في الدنيا هما الرحماء

You are just like a father or mother in your mercy….Those “the Father and mother” are the real merciful creatures in this world…

 

1-Reasons behind Describing the Prophet as a Terrorist

 

 

The reasons that some writers and biased people use in describing the prophet as a terrorist are no more than six, which are:

 

1.     Dissecting religious texts without looking at them as a whole. Islamic law consists of religious affairs pertaining to the world we live in as well as the hereafter, war and peace; therefore reading texts regarding war and its rules and principles while ignoring texts regulating a life full of morals, peace and ethics, may lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

 

2.     Lack of understanding regarding the circumstances of the incidents as being the cause of sending the Quranic verses. This study is known as “the reason of revelation” which is vitally important to know in order to understand the verses.

 

3.     Ignorance of the Arabic language. Reading any religious text in its original language clears up ambiguity and vagueness. There are generalizations in the verses which intend a specific meaning and vise versa. There are synonyms, multiple meaning words, etc. So knowing the Arabic grammar is very important to understand   the holy Quran properly.

 

4.     Ignorance of the philosophy of life. There is peace and war in this life, so a right and true religion must regulate and manage all circumstances. Because all life matters must be managed by its creator Who is the all knowing about his creatures. And leaving this live to be managed by people without heavenly rules will destroy everything; clear examples we can see when people don’t follow the right path in their behaviors. 

 

5.     Ignorance of the biography of the Prophet (PBUH), historical events, and interpreting the events by specific sects or according certain schools of thought without being objective in understanding the events.

 

6.     Grudge and hatred. These are the reasons which accompany almost every fanatic and spiteful person of the pure religion and the noble Prophet
(PBUH). Allah says: “they wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected (faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another)”.(An-Nissa’, v:89)

 

2-What is Terrorism?

 

Before disproving the calumny of calling the prophet (PBUH) a terrorist, we would like to define terrorism and distinguish between it and fighting in the sake of Allah “Jihad”. Many people mix terms up which lead to distortion in one’s thinking and opinions. Language wise: the word terrorism is derived in Arabic from the three-letter word “rahiba” which means “being afraid”. From the same verb another meaning is derived, “akhafa” which means “causing fear to someone’” .

 

Terrorism is causing fear, and it is caused by several reasons, starting off through psychological implications; as for example Fear of being scorned or being defamed, is the lowest level of terror that is known as psychological terrorism. This kind of terror may change into a permanent defamation of ones character, so the psychological harm becomes a social one. Then people may boycott this person economically, so the harm changes from an abstract harm to personal one that may cause poverty and collateral damages. This all can change into direct physical harm to the person and his family and guests. This level of terrorism is very dangerous and it’s the level of infiltration and destruction. Self-defense is justified in this case as a basic human right.

 

This introduction, leads us that terrorism can be defined as hurting others whether physically or emotionally as well as refusing to listen or debate with them. It starts off by accusing of lying and scorning which ends up with a war of destruction and genocide. Between these two main levels are many levels of terror; informative, economical, social, moral, etc.

 

3-The Innocence of the Prophets and Messengers (PBU them all) from Terrorism

 

From the previous definition of terrorism we find that it does not fit any of the Prophets or the Messengers of Allah. They only wanted their people to argue with them and to leave them deliver Allah’s message without harming them. But in fact the real terrorists are those who block the stairway for people to find the truth that is sent by Allah though His Prophets and Messengers, and the first one who has done this is Iblis “the devil” (upon him the curse of Allah) for he said as it is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an: ” (Iblîs) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path.”

{ Sur’at Al-A’raf, V: 16 }. The enemies of Allah’s Messengers use all possible ways to drive people away from the straight path “guidance”, starting a severe media war represented in many different ways, as using obscenity in speech about the Messengers of Allah and describing them with obscene words, Almighty Allah says: ” Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: “A sorcerer or a madman!”" { Sur’at Athariat, V: 52 }. They may even make an economical siege upon Muslims and start spreading bad morals in these societies ,,,etc. Afterwards starts the section of killing; using the whip against arguing, the sword against the right, and beating against the truth. Terrorism starts with the idea of refusing the commensalisms with the “other” and ends with killing the “other”, even if that other is a Prophet or a Messenger;  Allah  says about Moses in the holy Quran: ” And a believing man of Fir‘aun’s (Pharaoh) family, who hid his faith said: “Would you kill a man because he says: My Lord is Allâh, and he has come to you with clear signs (proofs) from your Lord?” { Sur’at Ghafir, V: 28 }.

 

The enemies of the Messengers have tried a lot to put the screws on them and to get them out of their lands. Allah the Almighty says: “And those who disbelieved, said to their Messengers: “Surely, we shall drive you out of our land, or you shall return to our religion.” So their Lord revealed to them: “Truly, We shall destroy the Zâlimûn (polytheists, disbelievers and wrong-doers). { Sur’at Ibraheem, V: 13 }. Their faulty hands could have even reached them causing them harm and killing them in addition to their followers, “Verily! Those who disbelieve in the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh and kill the Prophets without right, and kill those men who order just dealings,… then announce to them a painful torment.” {Sur’at Al-i-Imran,V: 21}.

 

Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) faced many kinds of terrorism from his nation (people) until Allah has saved Him from them, Allah the Almighty says: “And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allâh too was plotting; and Allâh is the Best of those who plot.” { Sur’at al-Anfal, V: 30 }.

 

 

4-A Misconception and its Falsification

 

The word ( Terror ) and its derivatives occurred in the Holy Qur’an in tweleve places. And it is never mentioned as an order to terrify the enemy, but to explain the preparations taken when facing the enemy, and it was mentioned in one place of the Holy Qura’n were the Almighty Allah says: “And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy”

{ Sur’at Al-Anfal, V: 60 }. To terrify – in this verse – means in the battle and that’s why  the Almighty Allah ordered us to prepare war weapons to fight against the enemy with all what we’ve got from strength and ability.

It is obvious that all wars aim to win the battle, terrifying the enemy and gaining booties. War is not a game, and the stronger wins at the end, and that’s why all countries and armies insist on winning the battle from the first go, and spread terror in the soul of their enemies. That is what the Qur’an says; not frightening the inoffensive people or getting rid of the enemies by betrayal ways as the overpowering do, because of the principles of Islam that is to respect others’ rights in beliefs, having an honorable life and an active participation in society… and not to start hostility upon others.

Glorified Allah says : “

“ 39. And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge.
     40. The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof; but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allâh. Verily, He likes not the Zâlimûn (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers).
     41. And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.
     42. The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress men and rebel in the earth without justification; for such there will be a painful torment”.{ Sur’at Ashora, V: 39-42 }.

 

 

 

5-The Difference between Terrorism and Jihad:

 

There is a deliberate mix up between terrorism and Jihad. The trumpets of deviation miss-call jihad for terrorism, and there’s a vast difference between both. Confusing the two terms, demands describing Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) with traits that are not in him, just because he fought for the sake of Allah. Not everyone who fights can be described as a terrorist, or else all of Allah’s Messengers, prophets (PBUT), and kings would be considered terrorists. Off course this is false by all means of common sense, jurisdiction or reality. Terrorism by definition is an illegal act of aggression performed by a gang, a group or a country -as it is the case with the Zionist entity- for the sake of achieving special goals. Terrorism here is a means of spoiling earth and destroying humanity, which is rejected by all religions and laws. Islam has adopted a firm position against terrorism, for Allah (the Almighty) said: ”And help one another in righteousness and piety, and help not one another in sin and aggression”……. (Al-Mai’da ,from Verse: 2).

Islam has imposed the hardest penalties on those who commit acts that endanger public security such as bandits…….the following verses deal with such kind of transgressors: “The only punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is that they should be murdered, or crucified, or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides, or they should be imprisoned. This shall be a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement”………..(Al-Ma’ida ,verse: 33).

 

Jihad on the other hand is a part of the methodology of Allah’s prophets and messengers including our prophet Muhammad(PBUH). It is a fair and just war to ward off an act of aggression or to wipe out the oppressing dictatorships that prevent people form the freedom of belief, Allah (the Almighty) said: “There is no compulsion in religion – the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error”…….(Al-Bakkara ,V:256).

Jihad is not meant to oblige people to profess Islam, Allah (the Almighty) is the Majestic and He is the king of all kings, He has called upon all mankind to worship Him for their own benefit. Quran is indeed His banquet on earth, whoever refuses Allah’s call, his deeds are not accepted by Allah but he is never obliged to embrace Islam.

The main pillar of communication between people is love and interest not hatred and obligation, it is the same situation with Allah (the Almighty) God of all beings. Gustaf Lobon mentions concerning this matter: “History has proven that religions can not be imposed by force, for when the Christians have oppressed the Arabs of Andalusia , they preferred to be killed and banished rather than leaving Islam. Also Islam was not spread by the sword, it spread by means of Da’wa (inviting others to Islam) alone. By Da’wa alone the nations, who invaded the Islamic countries, e.g.: (the Turks and Mongols” have embraced Islam.” (7)

 

Jihad first started as a defense of the rights of the Muhajreen (those who migrated from Mekka to Madina), those who were driven away unlawfully from their homes. Allah (the Almighty) said: “Permission (to fight) is given to those on whom war is made, because they are oppressed. And surely Allah is Able to assist them”……..(Al-Hajj ,V:39). It developed to be a defense for man wherever he is, and a freedom for humanity with all its races and colors from the shackles and dictatorships that holds it down, Allah (the Almighty) said: “O you who believe, fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you and let them find firmness in you. And know that Allah is with those who keep their duty.”………(At-Tawba ,verse:123).

 

Muslims used to sacrifice their selves and their money for the sake of spreading justice and giving the others the freedom of choice in ages that nothing were known about the political and religious freedom and did not admit the dignity of mankind. This is considered an international precedence which Muslims ought to take pride in, for they did not fight for plundering others fortunes and stealing what’s destined for them. Muslims fought for the sake of spreading justice and freedom among people so that they can choose the right doctrine or to stick to their belief if they want, without fear or any supervision. Throughout all ages mankind never knew such kind of war. The main purpose of war throughout history was material aspects or greed over others properties.

 

Although the New Age had provided some kind of freedom and protection under law and the sovereignty of countries and if the great countries had started thinking about what they call human rights and take such pretext to interfere in other countries affairs, but such matters never existed in the middle Ages. That’s why “jihad” took place at that time to save the freedom and dignity of mankind and to free human intellect from the guardianship of any tyrannical power that prevents man from following his religion without fear from any power in charge. 

 

If law could be able to apply justice, there would be no need for Hijra “immigration” or for fighting. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had pointed out for his companions what is better for them than Jihad in the time of peace and serenity, which is praising Allah (the Almighty), “Do you want me to tell you about the best that you can do and that Allah (the Almighty) loves best and that gets you the highest degrees and is better than spending gold and money for the sake of Allah and better than meeting your enemy and fight with them. They said “O messenger of Allah (PBUH), please do” He said “praising Allah (the Almighty)”. But If law fails in applying justice, then fighting becomes legitimate for achieving justice till judgment day.

 

6-Accepting others is the Base of Religious Freedom in Islam:

 

According to Islamic Jurisdiction people are free as regards their religion and belief. Islam does not accept any kind of guardianship on people’s minds and beliefs, there’s no such thing as compulsion when it comes to religion. Allah (the Almighty) said “There is no compulsion in religion – the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error.”..(Al-Bakkara ,V:256).

Islam never accepts neither belief nor atheism as a result of compulsion. The true base in belief and in atheism is the complete freedom of choice with no fear or guardianship from anyone and on that same base everyone will be responsible for his choice in front of Allah (the Almighty).

 

Here arises some inquiries about the “verse of the sword” and that we have to force others to embrace our belief. Ibn Katheer has responded to the idea that ” the verses of peace” being abrogated by those of “the sword”, for he said- as regards the verse “And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Surely He is the Hearer, the Knower.”……(Al-Anfal ,V:61) -that this verse is abrogated by the verse: “Fight those who do not believe in Allah not the Last Day”. The same comment was given by Ibn Abbas, Mojahid, Zaid ibn Aslam, Ata’ Al_khurasani, Ekrema, Al-Hassan and Katadha.

That is a controversial opinion, because the verse of bara’a (immunity) includes the order to fight them if possible, but if the enemy is too enormous then peace can be made with them as this verse had provided. And as Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) had done on the day of Hudaibia……so there is no contradiction, no abrogation and no appropriation……and Allah knows best.

 

 

7-The status of none Muslims living in Islamic countries:

 

The corner stones in Islamic relations with non Muslims who do not seek to fight with Muslims are benevolence, justice, good relations and cooperation, whether they live inside or outside an Islamic country. Allah (the Almighty) said ” Allâh does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allâh loves those who deal with equity..…(Al Mumtahanah,V:8)

As for those who fight against Da’wa, they are punished by the same act (war) whether they are non Muslims, denouncers of Islam or Muslims who have fought against the legitimate Islamic ruler. Allah (the Almighty) said: ” The sacred month is for the sacred month, and for the prohibited things, there is the Law of Equality (Qisâs). Then whoever transgresses the prohibition against you, you transgress likewise against him. And fear Allâh, and know that Allâh is with the pious believers who fear Allâh much.”……(Al-Bakkara ,V:194).

 

As for aggression of Muslims against others none Muslims, is totally prohibited, for Allah (the Almighty) said: “And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allâh likes not the transgressors.”…….(Al-Bakkara ,V:190).

 

In the light of such sublime laws that have been given by the Sharia’ (Islamic Law), Muslims have lived with other non Muslims side by side. Muslims and non Muslims (Christians & Jews) have exchanged food, for Allah (the Almighty) had made it permissible for each of the two parties to eat the food of the other. Allah (the Almighty) said: “This day (all) good things are made lawful for you. And the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them.”………(Al-Mai’da ,V:5).

 

Islam had prohibited Muslims to insult people of other religions or insulting their religions or making them hear what they dislike. Islam also had forbidden killing them and had allowed visiting them, asking them for help in need, holding agreements and trading with them…etc.

 

The Testimony of Orientalists as Regards the Tolerance of Islam

 

Many orientalists have praised the tolerance of Islam, as Zigrid Hunka did when she mentioned the attitude of Islam towards Christians, saying “The Arabic deeply rooted tolerance is the motive that made the conqueror of Egypt Amr Ibn Al-A’as avoid acts of plundering, stealing and destroying the conquered cities. On the contrary he made sure that Egyptians practice their inherited culture as was mentioned in the document of surrender literally. This act shows the real dimension of such tolerance unknown to Europe”.

 

Tolerance had started as early as the age of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and such honorable Islamic behavior continued throughout the ages of the kings of Islam and their heirs. Gustaf Lobon, in his account on the results of the Crusaders War, said “Salah El-Din did not want to act against the Crusaders the same as they did, i.e. with cruelty. So he did not kill the Christians, instead he just imposed on them a minimal tax, without taking anything of their properties.” (10).

 

 

Bernard Shaw Praises Prophet Muhammad’s Courage

 

Muhammad was not a terrorist in the eyes of almost western theorists and scientists including: Bernard Shaw, but he was a noble prophet and a great leader who understood the philosophy of life, and worked according to its law. The war according to him is a mean and not an aim, a theory that was adopted by Bernard Shaw. He represented his opinion about war in a dialogue – which he imagined – between Eissa and Muhammad (PBU them both):

 

-         In my religion killing is forbidden.

-         This is right when the matter is related to the personal disputes, but we have to kill those who are not capable of life.

-         Who decide if we are capable of life or not? The high Authorities, the Emperors and all the Religious men decide that I am not capable of life.

-         This was what happened to me, and I had to rescue myself and to keep myself out of sight, till I was able to convince a number of strong guys that their leaders had mistaken in judging me, then after that I returned to remove the herbs from the garden. 

-         I admire your courage and your practical wise, but I am not of the same kind.

-         Do not admire such characteristics, I often feel ashamed of them. All the tribes’ masters have a lot of them, and if I have any value then it is because of the spiritual highness that made me deserve being a Messenger of God.

 

It is strongly recommended to those who accused Prophet Mohammad of being a terrorist to read Bernard Shaw’s speech…

Jesus’ enemies tried to kill him but they failed, and they pretended that he was crucified, is it necessary that the fate of all the messengers is killing or crucifying as they pretended in order not to be terrorists. Why do people stand beside the killer against the victim, isn’t this the logic of the forest, in which the stronger prey on the weak? Then what is the different between man’s society and the forest’s?.  

 

 

Slandering Muhammad Means Slandering Jesus

 

 

This is the fact advocated by Bernard Shaw, Mahmoud Ali Mourad says concerning this matter: ” Concerning ethics in general, Shaw -in his desire to defend prophet Muhammad from his critics and from the critics of his religion from the Christians- reminded them in more than one subject of his writings, that Muhammad admitted the Message of Jesus. Moreover, he honored him with the same degree in which Jesus honored Johanna Al- ma’amadan whom he was coeval with and predicted the coming Prophet Muhammad. Shaw wanted to say – by emphasizing this fact – that if Muhammad was an evil person or a deceiver or a liar as it is pretended by the majority of the Christians under the leadership of the church, he would have attacked Jesus instead of admitting his Message; that means admitting his ethics. This admission should logically protect him from the evil of his enemies, thus slandering Muhammad is an indirect slander to the ethics that he advocated, and they are the same values which are advocated by Christianity”.            

 

 

 

 

The Cruciferous War Proves Islam Tolerance

 

 

There is no doubt that some Christians in the west thought that the victory of Islam and the spread of its power is a danger threatening their interests, thus they announced their enmity towards it. Their sin towards Muhammad is similar to the Jewish sin towards Jesus, Each one of them refused to admit his presence, so they intended to ignite the war between Christianity and Islam. One of the Armenian poets said on the tongue of his king in a long poem, that means :

 

I will conquer Allah’s land from east to west and spread Christianity by force…

 

Jesus’ throne gone over the skies, the one who precede him will win in the dispute day…

 

Your friend is buried in the grave, thus he turned into dust between the bones

 

The aim of such poems is to ignite media wars. Ibn Hazm sent a contradictory poem as a reply to this poet.

The Cruciferous Wars were established, and the Muslims were evacuated from Andalusia because of the malice that was ignited by the cruciferous kings, for religious causes “the apparent causes”, and political causes “the real causes”, because there is no contradiction between the ability of coexists between Christianity and Islam as it is mentioned above. In the year 429 Hijri, (the European occupied Jerusalem after a siege that remained for a month and a half. Moreover, they killed more than seventy thousand people, among them a group of scientists, worshipers and ascetics. In addition to this they collected the Jews in a church and burned them). Ghostaf Lobo describes the catastrophes caused by the Cruciferous: (The religious Cruciferous cavalries were not satisfied with this, but they held a conference in which they decided to wipe out all the residents of Jerusalem; Muslims, Jews and the apostates Christians, who were about sixty thousand. They wiped out all of them within eight days; they even killed women, children and old men. Then the cruciferous wanted to take rest from slaughtering all the people of Jerusalem, thus they started to do all kinds of drinking and roistering).

 

Muslims didn’t involve In return in any  religious eradication with others. They lived side by side with all religions and sects living in the Islamic countries. When they defeated the Cruciferous power, they offered services and aids to all cruciferous who wanted to return back to their countries. In addition, Salah Al-Din forgave their kings, and did not take revenge of their churches or from the Christians who continued  living side by side with Muslims in the Islamic countries. In the contrary was the case with  the Muslims of Andalusia, when the Christians captured the authority there; they burned mosques, destroyed the Islamic traces and expatriated all Muslims from the country.

 

 

The Reasons behind the Cruciferous Wars

 

Bernard Shaw analyzes the reasons of the Cruciferous Wars; he thinks that “the Christians’ worship to the Old Testament, considering it a part and a parcel of their holy book, was the reason behind cultivating the military thought in the spirits of the Western World. The Old Testament was also mainly involved in all the wars participated by the Christian world, Both parties in these wars, including the first great war , were holding a gun or a cannon or a bomb in one hand, and holding the Old Testament in the other hand. The removal of the idea of war from the minds of those people will not take place unless the Old Testament is descended from the skies and amended, moreover, to consider its actual reality and not considering it as a sent book with no distortions. “

  

 

Neocolonialism & it’s Cruciferous Roots

 

The colonization wars in the modern era, had taken the Christian religion as a cover for its economical greediness; the anthem of the Italian soldiers when they were going to invade Libya was as follows:

-Oh my mother, complete your prayer & do not cry but laugh & cogitate

-Don’t you know that Italy calls me and  I’m going to Tripoli (Capital of Libya) full of joy and happiness.

-To sacrifice my blood to crush the damned nation

-And to fight the Islamic religion that allows the Sultan to marry the  virgin girls  slaves

- I’ll fight with all my strength to erase the Quran

 

Such an anthem will surly not be accepted by Jesus, as he was a Messenger of love & peace; and said: “love your enemies“

 

The Results of this Research:

 

1-Peace is the base of all prophets’ mission, but their enemies fought against them, so fighting became their destiny; even Jesus who did not fight at all, he will return from to earth before the Hour of Resurrection to kill the Antichrist who is the mortal enemy of Allah, as said in the Hadith that Jesus will fight the Antichrist until he(Jesus) reaches him (the Antichrist) at the Lid Gate (One of the gates in Jerusalem city) then he will kills him“

 

2-The enemies of the prophets & messengers are those who start aggression, so they are the real terrorists in this life, and to defend themselves (the Prophets & Messengers) is a legal right.Allah the Almighty says:

” Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Mekkah) and intended to expel the Messenger, while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers. ” (Surat At-Taubah verse :13)

3-Many prophets did fight before the coming of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH),as Moses, Daoud & Solomon(Peace Be Upon Them All). Hence fighting is not appropriate or illegal for the virtuous and the prophets, then they did not do, but there must be a power to defend & protect the right, so they did fight the tyrants & the spoilers to prevent them from spoiling the earth.

 

4-The fight of the Prophets and Messengers is governed by ethical rules taught to them by the Almighty Allah; not to destroy the environment , animals, weak people , friars , monasteries ,churches and so on…on the contrary is the way how their enemies fight; they destroy and annihilate everything.

Allah (the Almighty) says: “Then, when he brought them the Truth from Us, they said: “Kill the sons of those who believe with him and let their women live, but the plots of disbelievers are nothing but errors! ”( Surat Ghâfir, from verse : 25)

 

5- Jihad in Islam, starts for the sake of defending the emigrants & the people of Al Madeena (El Mohajireen & El Ansaar), and then it goes to defend the rights of people & the minorities on earth and to liberate them from the fetters upon them . Allah (the Almighty) says:

“…he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them….. ” (Surat Al-A’râf , from verse:157)

So Jihad is aiming to make changes & renewals to reach a better life, and also to release the liberties for the nations & people; it has nothing to do with terrorism.

And if the modern countries give theme selves the right to intervene in the business of other countries, and to fight them in order to spread the principles of democracy & human rights, it is much more logical to give this right to religion which is over everything else (as it does not change for the sake of any body whatever, and also its principals is suitable for every era…)

 

6- Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) is the most merciful human being & the most far one from revenging to himself, and it’s enough- to illustrate that matter- to mention his famous words at Mekkah conquest :” go, you are free” (without any revenge!)

So after all mentioned, describing him other than being the most moral and merciful over all mankind, are all lies over the facts & the history. And the fair Western scientist and those from all other nations, vouch for his grandeur manners & his nobility (PBUH).

 

7-Coexistence with the others is part of the Islamic law and is innate in Islam, hence the prophet can’t be injustice and oblige anybody to embrace Islam because Allah says:

“ And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind, until they become believers. ”(Surat-Yunus, verse:99)

 

8- Differentiating between terrorism & Jihad is an obligatory matter.

Terrorism means aggression, killing without just, forcing people to leave their homelands, destroy their houses, trespass their money & their women and also to destroy the human environment.All this is highly rejected & does not agree with the Islamic law & its aims, and there are an uncountable number of legal opinions of the Islamic scholars about rejecting terrorism & forbidding it; So as you see, Jihad is not equal to Terrorism.

 

9-Terrorism was created by colonization which rips the human relations among people and used the most destructive weapons to degrade it &subdue it .

The colonization doesn’t stop at this point but it goes beyond this to unjustly attack the true religion (The Islam) & its generous prophet.

 

This make us mention one of Jesus’ most descriptive words when he was talking to the Jews:

“O’ sons of vipers, you see a mote in your brother’s eye but you don’t see the piece of wood in your eye! ”

It means that the Jewish was concerned mostly with the others faults not with their own faults.

 

And finally, our last supplication is : All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)…

 

 

Source: http://www.rasoulallah.net/subject_en.asp?hit=1&parent_id=29&sub_id=450

A message to Jews

This post is for you

http://www.jews-for-allah.com/

see this website , explore it , then I’d be glad to see your comment.

Blog Tips for Beginners

- Keep it simple. Start with a free and easy to use blogging tool like Blogger. Pick a simple design and just start writing. You can tweak the design and make it look good later.

- Write for yourself. It takes time for others to find and read your blog so use it as a space to think out loud about the things that interest you. Pick topics that you are passionate about and you’ll find people with similar interests will connect with you.

- Interact with your readers. Make sure your blog has a commenting feature – when someone leaves a comment email them or leave a reply comment. People will come back if you take the time to acknowledge and interact with them.

- Set boundaries and think about the purpose of your blog. Remember what you are writing is in a public domain so you might want to refrain from talking about your personal life – people WILL find it. Decide up front about what you will and won’t write about and stick to it.

- Read other blogs and link to those that interest you. One of the best things about blogging is how it connects people thinking through similar issues. Link to them, add your own ideas, leave comments on their blog – blogging can bring about rich and wonderful conversations and lead to lasting friendships.

- Be patient, post regularly and have fun. It can take a long time to build up a readership. In the mean time just enjoy the writing process. Make it a daily exercise (it takes some discipline) and don’t give up if it seems no-one is reading – just be yourself and have fun.

 

source: http://www.livingroom.org.au/blog/archives/blog_tips_for_beginners.php

Some Benefits of Islam (4)

(4) Forgiveness for All Previous Sins

 

When someone converts to Islam, God forgives all of his previous sins and evil deeds.  A man called Amr came to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and said, “Give me your right hand so that I may give you my pledge of loyalty.”  The Prophet PBUH stretched out his right hand.  Amr withdrew his hand.  The Prophet PBUH said: {What has happened to you, O Amr?}  He replied, “I intend to lay down a condition.”  The Prophet PBUH asked: {What condition do you intend to put forward?}  Amr said, “That God forgive my sins.”  The Prophet PBUH said: {Didn’t you know that converting to Islam erases all previous sins?}
 

After converting to Islam, the person will be rewarded for his or her good and bad deeds according to the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH : {Your Lord, Who is blessed and exalted, is most merciful.  If someone intends to do a good deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him.  And if he does do it, (a reward of) ten to seven hundred or many more times (the reward of the good deed), will be recorded for him.  And if someone intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him.  And if he does do it, a bad deed will be recorded against him or God will wipe it out.}