ISLAM - A Profound Insight

WHY DOES GOD LET ALL OF THIS HAPPEN?

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:13:59 +0000

WHY DOES GOD LET ALL OF THIS HAPPEN?

If God exists, is just, knows all and is capable of everything, then why does he allow for devastating things such as war, genocide or illness to happen around us? Why does he let innocent people die, without punishing their murderers? Why does he let children simply die when they have not ever committed sin?

To answer this, one must firstly remember that this life is not a place for accountability, reward or punishment, but that it is a place of trials.

“And surely We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and We shall test your facts.”
The Quran, 47: 31

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, some loss in wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say, when afflicted with calamity: ‘To God we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom (descend) blessings from God,
and Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.”
The Quran, 2: 155-157

“Think not that God is unaware of that which the wrong-doers do. He but gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.”
The Quran, 14: 42

Someone who only sees this life and believes that it does not continue afterwards is overwhelmed by loss in times of grief or pain, catastrophes or long illnesses. The Muslim undoubtedly feels sadness and pain as well, but he lives with the certainty that this life is only a very small chapter of his existence. He lives with the certainty that the Day of Judgment will soon come, although “soon” is a vague term, which can last from five minutes (“I’ll come home soon from work”) to even decades (“Soon, the little one will be all grown up”), depending on the situation and perception. Surely, in relation to man’s life on Earth, which has existed for numerous tens of thousands of years, the life of an individual of approximately 80 years seems relatively short. Following the latter, reward or punishment occur for the length of eternity.

The Muslim believes that nothing happens by chance and meaninglessly, but that everything that occurs in this world follows a specific sense and wisdom known to Allah – even if we cannot discover the meaning behind everything.

Islam as the Only Way to Paradise

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:58:37 +0000

ISLAM AS THE ONLY WAY TO PARADISE

On the way to Paradise, one cannot ignore God. God invites man to accept His message and not to ignore His messengers:

‘ Say: ‘ “If you (really) love God, follow me: God will love you, and forgive your sins, for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ Say: ‘Obey God and His Messenger;’ but if they turn back, God loves not those who reject Faith.”
The Quran, 3: 31-32

God also declares that He will only accept Islam:
“ And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of Him, and in the Afterlife he will be one of the losers.”
The Quran, 3: 85

“The (accepted) Religion before God is Islam”
The Quran, 3: 19

The Prophet clearly says in this regard:
“I swear by the One who holds my soul in His hand: Everyone that hears of me and still does not accept my Message will belong to the people of Jahannam.”

The question is, why does God only accept Islam as the way to Janna? Why must we accept the message of Prophet Muhammad? There is only one God, and He gave man only one religion. This religion was transmitted to man by different Prophets in different eras and in different places. They all taught: There is only one God, He the Almighty, the Merciful, who is above all, for he created everything. He does not resemble any man, anything, and does not have any Partner or any kindred. This life is a trial. Afterwards, there is only Janna or Jahannam for all eternity. Janna is for everyone who accepted the Message of God. Jahannam is for everyone who denied the Message of God.

This religion is “Islam”, which was not named after a specific person, or a nation, or a country or a tribe, for all people and all countries are equal before God. The word “Islam” derives from the Arabic root “slm” (pronounced “sa-la-ma”), from which three different meanings can be derived:
a) “to submit oneself ”
b) “purity”
c) “peace.”

“Islam” comprises these three meanings, because: a person that devotes himself to God and worships Him purely (i.e. solely Him) will live in peace and tranquility in this life and in the Hereafter. Therefore, he or she is a “Muslim”.

Every Prophet was given a specific version of this religion. The difference between the versions lies only in the details of their respective prohibitions and commandments. Prophet Muhammad was sent with the last version. He is the new bearer of the same flag that all the other prophets before him defended their entire lives, and under which they served.

The General Characteristics of Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:56:47 +0000

THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM

The character of Islam can be described by the following reference points:
*There is only one God; and He created everything.
*Islam is a simple dogma that agrees with the heart and reason of man.
*Man is responsible for himself. No intermediaries (i.e. priests in Christianity) or expiatory sacrifices can help him.

“Then guard yourselves against a day (of Judgement) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.”

The Quran 2:123

*All people are equal before the Justice of God. Neither nationality nor skin color, nor gender, occupation or religion matter.
*Islam prompts people to believe in all prophets and follow the last one, Muhammad.
*Islam can be practiced in every society, every nation and every era without any problems, and nothing that surpasses one’s abilities is being expected from anyone.

“ On no soul does God place a burden greater than it can bear.”

The Quran 2:286

*Islam provides a religious, economic, social, political and military order, valid for each individual, each family, and society. It balances this life and the Hereafter, and it is concerned with the fulfillment of the needs of the body and the soul.
*There is no monasticism in Islam. For the Muslim, life is a big mosque, and his daily work is a form of worship.
*The goal of Islam in this life is for man to live happily and enjoy the beauty of this life. Only that which could harm the health, others or society is prohibited.
*To violate the rights of others, injustice, deceit and dictatorship are in Islam great sins.
*In Islam, science and religion work together.

“Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge”

The Quran 35:28

*The religious texts in Islam – the Quran and the Sunnah – were noted and copied with highest precision, and then they were preserved with utmost care. For this purpose, Muslims developed disciplines to order and test the Quran and the Hadiths systematically, according to strict transmission rules and methods.

Why Does God Let All of This Happen?

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:53:00 +0000

WHY DOES GOD LET ALL OF THIS HAPPEN?

To answer this, one must firstly remember that this life is not a place for accountability, reward or punishment, but that it is a place of trials.

“And surely We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and We shall test your facts.”
The Quran, 47: 31

“Think not that God is unaware of that which the wrong-doers do. He but gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror.”
The Quran, 14: 42

The Meaning of the Pilgrimage in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:48:58 +0000

THE MEANING OF THE PILGRIMAGE IN ISLAM

One of the pillars of Islam is to undertake the hajj (pilgrimage) to Macca. The Muslim spends a few days there in different places, and at the same time lives through this experience and shares it with over two million Muslims from all over the world representing all kinds of cultures and who speak the most diverse languages. They all move into Macca dressed in simple white clothes, and their occupation, age, and social status do not matter, least of all nationality or skin color. During the pilgrimage, man divests himself of all worldly superficialities, and he is thrown back to his roots as a human being and a creature of God. Control over oneself plays an important role during the pilgrimage, and man is directed towards the friendly and peaceful interaction with others – which, taking into consideration the millions of pilgrims in a small area, and the efforts to prepare for the journey itself, can represent a major challenge.

The conscious interaction with the environment is also part of the pilgrimage. In Macca, no Muslim may harm any animal or plant, regardless of whether they are large or small. Thus, man is reminded that he is not lord over everything, but only a creature of the same God. The experiences of this peaceful gathering and of the collective praising of God in Macca represent a turning point in the life of a Muslim, for it leaves the impression of an unforgettable closeness to God and fraternity with other Muslims. One of these decisive experiences is documented in history in great detail: the pilgrimage of the American civil rights activist Malcolm X(1) in 1964, which made an actively racist nationalist into a peaceful man, in the company of all ethnicities.

Malcolm X describes his experiences during the pilgrimage as follows:

“Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here [...] For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors. [...] There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white. America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. [...] I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color. You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to re-arrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. [...] We were truly all the same (brothers)–because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude.”

Supplication

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:47:21 +0000

SUPPLICATION

(DO’A)

“Indeed you were heedless of this; now have We removed your veil, and sharp is your sight this Day!”

The Quran, 50: 22

To illuminate this hidden future, the soul knocks at the gates of God at this time. Through prayer and conversation, God heals the spiritual wounds caused by the parting of the loved ones, and he forgets those who have long forgotten him. Now, one leaves everything behind which had long left one behind. Before man falls in a sleep that resembles death, he bows in Sudjud before God to ask for His company. With the night Prayer, man puts a bright end to his record of deeds of the day.

In summary, we can say that prayer in Islam is harmonically integrated in the daily life of man, and that it creates moments of reflection and peace. It binds the soul, the heart and the mind with the events of the universe and the future.

Through supplication, man turns directly to God in a very personal conversation. This is a private moment, which offers a place for grievance, the expression of wishes, or the presentation of needs. However, the question arises of why we sometimes seem to vainly await the fulfillment of our wishes by God.

The Prophet explained the influence of supplication as follows: “There is no Muslim that asks God for something and does not receive one of the following three things: he either has his supplication fulfilled, or it is stored for the Hereafter, or he is preserved from harm of equal value.”

His companions responded: “Then we will make many supplications” and the Prophet replied: “God can give you more than what you could ever wish for.”

Sometimes, pain and sorrow preserve man from an even larger future tragedy, even if man does never find out about it because God averted it. On the other hand, the Muslim suffers in this life in replacement of the punishment in the Hereafter.

The Prophet said about this:

“Every weariness, illness, worry, sorrow, harm or bitterness, down to the smallest bit, is deducted from the Muslim’s sins.” “Muslims will receive trials from themselves, their children and their possessions, until they stand before God free of sin.” “When God wants good for his servant, he lets him receive his punishment in this life, for otherwise He would keep his sin for him and let him receive it on the Day of Resurrection.”

Prayer

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:45:45 +0000

PRAYER

Only the direct relation between God and man is accepted in Islam, for everything and everyone was created by God alone, and only God Himself has endless capabilities and knowledge.

Prayer in Islam is one of the most important methods to establish this direct relationship to God. It gives man the possiblity to talk to God directly. Therefore, prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam.

This allows for the non-believing person to become an adherent and servant of temporary relations and things. He only lives for them and he only yearns for them as long as they last, or until he leaves everything behind through death.

During prayer, the believer praises his God and asks Him for His support; for this purpose, he begins each prayer with the words:

“1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2. The praises and thanks be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
4. Master of the Day of Recompense.
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way.
7. The way of those on whom you have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.”
The Quran, 1: 1-7

When Muslims do their prayer in congregation, they arrange themselves in rows behind the imam and pray from all continents towards Macca.

This benevolent dynamic is also found in Macca, when Muslims circle around the Kaaba in uniform movements seven times counterclockwise. If we look beyond the simple movements, this ritual evokes once more the movement of the planets on their orbits, or the power of a swarm of birds, which points to the unity of man, nature, universe and religion in Islam.

Death From the Islamic Perspective

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:43:40 +0000

DEATH FROM THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

After living creatures complete the lifetime that God has established for them and fulfill their mission, the time comes when they are released from their tasks in life.

1 The Gate to an Illuminated World

For the Muslim, death, which represents for many the final ending, is only a change of location, a gateway to the illuminated world of the eternal bliss and mercy of God. There is no fear, no worry or sorrow, as one rests from the noise of this world.

The Quran says about the last moments of this life:

“Verily, those who say: ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and, further, stand straight and steadfast, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death (saying): ‘Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the Glad Tidings of the Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for!– A hospitable gift from One Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!’”
The Quran, 41: 30-32

2 Release

The ieman teaches the Muslim that this life, in spite of all its joys, can only seem like a narrow space in comparison to the Afterlife with all its beauty.
The Prophet said:

“This life is a cage to the Muslim and paradise of the non – Muslim.”

Aging From the Islamic Perspective

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:31:53 +0000

AGING FROM THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

In advanced age, God lets a tire of life and a yearning for quiet grow within man. This spiritual state helps those who have the ieman to part and “move” to Janna. In this chapter of life, God allows man to feel the transient nature of this carnal life, and enhances the pursuit of eternal joy in the Afterlife.

This spiritual state “translates” for human the meanings of this Life in this world which is as a divine book. This book, with its letters and words, points to the characteristics of its Creator and “tells” man:

* “I (this life) am the soil for the Afterlife. Occupy yourself with cultivation and do not pick the blossoms, for you will harvest their fruit in the Afterlife.”
* “What you see here are mirrors that reflect the name and characteristics of God. Become acquainted with Him through them and focus on Him, for mirrors are fragile.”
* “You are an honored guest in this house, enjoy the hospitality, behave properly, observe the house rules and do not look behind you when you take your leave.”

“And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Afterlife for those who are pious.”
The Quran, 6: 32

“Verily! We have made that which is on Earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) – as to which of them are best in deeds.
And verily! We shall make all that is on it (the Earth) a bare dry soil (without growth or foliage).”
The Quran, 18: 7-8

Spiritual Bliss through Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:29:54 +0000

SPIRITUAL BLISS THROUGH ISLAM

Many people do not experience happiness, even though they do not lack anything material; some are even pushed to suicide by the futile search for meaning in their lives. But God preserved the Muslim from such sorrow, for the true belief in God and His Prophet lightens the soul, calms and fulfills the heart, and creates in the Muslim a state of bliss.

“O mankind! There has come to you a direction from your Lord and a healing for the (needs) in your hearts – a guidance and a mercy for the believers. Say: ‘In the Bounty of God, and in His Mercy – in that let them rejoice’: that is better than the (wealth) they amass.”
The Quran, 10: 57-58

“ Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of God: Verily, in the remembrance of God do hearts find satisfaction. For those who believe and work righteousness, is (every) blessedness, and a beautiful place of (final) return.”
The Quran, 13: 28-29

True belief closes all dark doors, does not let the Muslim feel lonely in this existence, and speaks to his heart as follows:
“O man, do not be sad that your life is limited and short, for an eternal life awaits you. Do not be sad and do not worry if you cannot realize your wishes and goals in this life, for you will have them realized in Janna.” And further: “You possess neither yourself nor the universe nor the future, but you are rather a creature of the Most Merciful, who has made you here an honored guest. He has planned the schedule of your future journey and he promised you eternal bliss. He expects from you only that which you are capable of doing. Do not worry about the things around you, you are not responsible for them, but the One who created them is.”

“And this life of the world is only amusement and play! But verily the Home in the Afterlife, that is life indeed, if they but knew.”
The Quran, 29: 64

“On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord, are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath, therein are they to dwell (for ever), a gift from the presence of God, and that which is in the presence of God is the best (bliss) for the righteous.”
The Quran, 3: 198

Ibrahim Ibn Ad-ham, a Sufi and Muslim scholar (died 779) said:
“If the kings and the sons of kings knew what joy and blissfulness we have, they would try to wrench it from us with swords.” His friend Abo Yusuf Al-Ghasuli said in this regard: “They sought this joy, but they missed the right path.”

What Do We Need Islam For?

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:28:37 +0000

WHAT DO WE NEED ISLAM FOR?

Some people ask: “What do I get from believing in the Prophet, the Afterlife and the Last Testament of God? I enjoy my life without the limitations of a religion, in the end I will die and my body will decompose in the grave.”

On the one hand: the true answer about death and the Afterlife could only be given by the Revelation of God. The missing notion of a life after death does not have an influence on the fact that there is an eternal life that begins with death, even though the body decomposes.

In this life, man is surrounded by people and things that are bound to his heart through strong love bonds, even though they are not lasting for him, nor is he lasting for them. Man is distressed when he loses one of them, and finally he has to enter his grave alone.

A slipping mountain climber who can still hold on for a few moments will accept the rope that his friend throws to save him. Since, otherwise, his fall would be inevitable, he will take the rope even if it is not strong enough to hold his entire body weight. The only rope available to man for his salvation, which guarantees him eternal life, is unfortunately rejected by many. It is the secure rope of God. Our life is, compared to the Afterlife, only a few moments long.

“Nor sell the Covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for verily, what is with God is far better for you if you only knew: Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever with God will remain. And we will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their reward to the best of what they used to do.”
The Quran, 16: 95-96

The Reliance on God

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:27:11 +0000

THE RELIANCE ON GOD (TAWAKKUL)

Simultaneously, a Muslim, who was given Tawakkul, relies on God in regard to the results of his efforts. He puts his heavy burdens and his future in the merciful hands of God, and says: “Tawakkaltu Ala-llah” – as long as God exists and as long as He is the Lord of the entire Universe, as long as He holds the key to well-being and bliss, and as long as He knows my situation, He will not let me become lost.

“And if whosoever puts his trust in God, then He will suffice him”
The Quran, 65: 3

“Work (righteousness): soon God will observe your work, and (so will) His Messenger, and the believers: soon will you be brought back to the All-Knower of what is hidden and what is open: then He will inform you of what you used to do.”
The Quran 9: 105

“That man can have nothing but what he does; And that his deeds will be seen; Then he will be recompensed with a full and the best recompense”
The Quran 53: 39-41

To prevent his camel from getting lost, a Bedouin asked the Prophet: “Should I bind my camel, or should I not leash it and rely on God?”

The Prophet replied: “Tie your camel and rely on God.”

This hadith, very well known in Islamic circles, is to Muslims an important indication that relying on God does not imply not to work anymore and not to plan one’s life, but to trust God for the success of one’s activities.

The Prophet also said: “The truly trustworthy businessman will be in Paradise with the Prophet, the saints and the martyrs.”

And he added: “Nobody has ever eaten better food than the one he earned through his own work.”

In all the events of his life, the Prophet always remarked that a Muslim should try his hardest and, in addition, rely on God. This is also shown in his journey to Madina, planned to the very last detail, his battles, and in the fact that he sometimes stored enough food for his family to last an entire year.

A saying of the second caliph Omar goes: “Nobody may sit without working for his earnings and say: ‘God, give me!’ for you know that neither gold nor silver rain from the sky.”

Morality in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:45:09 +0000

MORALITY IN ISLAM

Prophet Muhammad said: “I was sent to accomplish good morality.”

To forgive others, truthfulness in word and action, the act of charity, to salute others, humility, no Ghibah (not to speak bad about someone when they are not there to defend themselves), no Namiima (not to tell anyone the bad things another person has said about them), generosity, and to be able to bear pain.

Respect for parents assumes an important place in the Islamic moral system. Muslims are reminded that their parents are the reason why they were given life.

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.’ ”
The Quran, 17: 23-24

“And we have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents: his mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and in two years was his weaning: Show gratitude to me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.”
The Quran, 31: 14

Sex in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:40:04 +0000

SEX IN ISLAM

Islam handles human impulses and needs in a practical fashion and it recognizes that the human longing for love and sex was created with the intention of God. In order to preserve the benefits of sex, its practice was only allowed within a specific framework: marriage.

For in marriage:
1. Family cohesion is preserved, the gradual shrinkage of population is prevented, and further negative influential factors of society on family are reduced.
2. Women are preserved from sexual exploitation.
3. Children are protected and they grow up in a largely stable family atmosphere.

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily in that are indeed Signs for those who reflect.”
The Quran, 30: 21

Islam encourages all Muslims to marry, and the Prophet said: “He who loves my manners and ways should accept my Sunnah (living practices), and marriage belongs to them.”

The Prophet said: “For each ‘Alhamdulillah’ (Praise to God), ‘Allahu-akbar’ and ‘La ilaha illallah’, and for making love, one receives a Hasana (positive point).”

He was asked: “How can it be that one is rewarded for one’s lust?”

The Prophet replied: “If man was to enjoy it in a prohibited way (extramarital), would he not receive sin points on his record of deeds? Therefore, he would receive positive points if he was to do it in an allowed fashion (marriage).”

Since marriage in Islam is the only legitimate way to have sexual intercourse, it is handled in a flexible and practical manner, as follows:
1. Islam accepts a marriage even if it is done not for the wish to have children, but for the lust for physical contact or togetherness.
2. In order to marry someone, only a specific oral contract in the presence of two witnesses and mutual agreement are required.
3. The relationship between the spouses is seen practically in Islam. Since not all relationships are successful and some couples do not work together, or do not find love and happiness in marriage, divorce is allowed in Islam. Therefore, everybody has another chance to have a new and successful relationship.

“But if they separate (by divorce), God will provide abundance for all from His all-reaching bounty: for God is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures’ need, All-Wise.”
The Quran 4: 130

At the same time, however, Islam considers divorce an unwanted decision. The Prophet said in this regard: “Of the things that are allowed, divorce is the most disliked by God.”

Man and Sin in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:38:01 +0000

MAN AND SIN IN ISLAM

Man is born free of sin and in the course of his life he commits good and bad deeds, for which he receives either a positive point (Hasana) or a sin point (Sayye-ah). A person is held accountable only for his own deeds. However, in Islam, the system takes into consideration human weaknesses and flaws.

“Verily, We created Man from a drop of mixed semen, in order to try him, so We gave him (the gifts) of Hearing and Sight.”
The Quran, 76: 2

“ And We have shown him the two ways (good and evil)”
The Quran, 90: 10

God wants man to develop his good sides by practicing them in life, and He promises him a great reward for it. In return, manmust fight his bad impulses, which is perceived by God as a sort of Jihad.

“ And by the Soul, and Him Who perfected it in proportion; Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him; Truly he succeeds who purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it!”
The Quran, 91: 7-10

However, when man commits sins, whether purposely or unknowingly, his evil impulses triumph, and he seeks to fulfill his wishes in a sinful manner. Regardless of willingly or not, Islam requires man to end sinful practices and return to God in both cases.

“ And whoever does evil or wrongs himself, but afterwards seeks God’s forgiveness, he will find God Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
The Quran, 4: 110

“ And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults; – And do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know. For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath, an eternal dwelling”
The Quran, 3: 135-136

Every person has two angels that record his Hasanat and his sins. The angel to the right is responsible for the Hasanat, and the one on the left for the sins.

Prophet Muhammad said: “The writer that records the Hasanat is the boss of the writer that records the sins. When a person commits a sin, the angel to the right says to the other: ‘Give him seven hours, maybe he will ask God for forgiveness, or praise God.’”

The Prophet also said: “God said: ‘He who commits a Hasana receives ten times the reward or more. He who commits a sin receives only one punishment or I will forgive him. He who comes closer to me by the length of a hand, I approach him by the length of an arm.’”

Allah looks forward to the return of a man to Him from his sin more than to the return of one who was in the desert and lost his camel with food and drink – one that had lost hope of finding his camel again and lay down by the shade of a palm tree. Suddenly, he stood up and found the camel standing before him. He took the reins and said out of mere confusion and happiness: “Thank you God, truly You are my slave and I am Your Lord.”

The Prophet said: “Allah is more merciful with his servants (mankind) than a sparrow to its chicks.”

The Meaning of Our Existence in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:35:39 +0000

THE MEANING OF OUR EXISTENCE IN ISLAM

With the intention of highlighting the question of “Why?”, the meaning of our existence, we will use the following symbolic story, which was passed from an angel to Prophet Muhammad and representatively illustrates this subject matter.

The Story about the King and His Palace

There was once a rich king who possessed many enormous treasure chambers, which contained all kinds of gold and jewels. He was very educated in all sciences. He was talented, skilful, competent and proficient in all trades and practiced them himself. Out of his successes, he built an extraordinary, inimitable palace. The many different parts of the palace were each furnished in their own style, and the roofs were adorned with elaborately crafted ornaments, which reflected his talents. When the palace was finished, he invited his subjects to his palace. On the different tables his guests were offered
unimaginable delicacies of the finest ingredients, all of which he had prepared himself.

The king commissioned his ambassador to reveal to his guests all the secrets of the palace, to explain the reason for the construction of the palace, where the meaning of all symbols and treasures distributed all over the palace lied, and also to convey his instructions regarding protocol and etiquette.

His ambassador stood in the middle of the largest hall, and his assistants were distributed in the rest of the palace. He began his speech:
“O people, truly our king, the lord of this palace, wishes to introduce himself to you through all you see here, and he expects from you that you become eager to know him. He wants to manifest his attention to you through all these ornaments. He invited you here out of his hospitality, grace and generosity, and gave you all of this. The king loves you, and he wants you to love him as well, to be grateful and to follow his instructions. So, at the end of the celebration, he will grant you your wishes, shower you with his grace, and show you further benefaction.”

There were two kinds of guests. One type wandered around the palace, observed its wonders, astounded, and said to one another: “A mighty king must stand behind this palace, who surely pursues determined goals. Why did he invite us and honor us so? Why did he craft all these things?”

As they conversed, they heard the voice of the ambassador, as he began his speech, and hurried to hear him. They listened to him attentively and respectfully, and they conscientiously followed his instructions. At the end of the celebration, the king invited those guests to live in another, even more beautiful palace. They were rewarded according to the majesty of the king.

The other type of guests, as soon as they entered the palace, were only concerned about their own pleasure. They enjoyed themselves everywhere in the palace and did not ask who had prepared all of it for them, and why they had been invited. They missed the speech of the ambassador, and they did not show any interest in him. They did not observe his instructions at all, and at the end of the celebration they were punished by the king according to his magnificence.

Hence, this palace symbolizes our Earth, which is embellished by plants and animals, and the sky, adorned with stars. The assistants of the ambassador are the other prophets, who were distributed on Earth at different times.

The angels once said that he who obeys Muhammad is also obedient to God and will come to Janna. The fate of man is decided through Muhammad.

In order to summarize the meaning of life in Islam, one can say that man should benefit from this life without forgetting the Afterlife. The latter means that man should accept the Message of God and not ignore the Word of God.

The Value of Man in Islam

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:31:17 +0000

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The Quran from the Perspective of Intellectuals and Scientists

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:30:07 +0000

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The Scientific Wonders of the Quran

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:19:36 +0000

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The Linguistic Miracles of the Quran

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:07:51 +0000

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