A brief summary of the principles of
Ghuslis as follows:
First,A Muslim should make his/her
intention for purification, then wash the
privateparts. Then make
Wudhoo' (ablution) like the Wudhoo' done
for prayer, then pour water on hisright
side, then the left side. Then water should
be poured on his head,covering the entire
body with water. It is also reported in the Sunnah (narrations of the Prophet
Muhammad ) that washing the feet should be delayed until the end of
the Ghusl.
It is reported onthe authority of Aa'ishah who said that theMessenger of
Allaah when performingGhusl from Janaabah (ritual impurity), used to wash
his hands, then wash his private parts with hisleft hand. After that he performed
Wudhoo' like that for prayer. Next, he took somewater and ran his fingers in the
roots of his hair until he used three handfulsof water on his head. He would then
go on pouring water on the rest of his bodyand wash his legs. [Muslim]
1. The person taking a bath should first of all wash both hands up to the wrists,
and then wash the private parts. The hands and private parts should be washed
irrespective of whether there is any impurity on them or not. Both these have to be
washed under all conditions. Thereafter, any impurity found on the rest of the
body should be washed. Then make Wudhoo'. If one is sitting on a stool or stone
while bathing, then the feet should also be washed when making Wudhoo'. But if
one is sitting in a place where the water accumulates and he will have to wash the
feet again after completing the Ghusl, then the entire Wudhoo' should be made but
the feet should not be washed.
After performing Wudhoo', pour water on the head three times. Thereafter pour
water over the right and left shoulders three times each in such a way that water
reaches the entire body. Thereafter move from this place and go to a clean spot
and wash the feet. If the feet were washed when making Wudhoo' there will be no
need to wash them again.
2. Whilst pouring water over the body the first time, rub the body well so that water
reaches everywhere properly and no place remains dry.
3. The above method of Ghusl is according to the Sunnah. Some of the items
explained above are Fardh (obligatory) without which Ghusl will not be complete
and the person will remain impure. Some other items are Sunnah (recommended
but not obligatory). Observing them entails reward, and by not carrying them out,
Ghusl will still be complete. The Fardh acts are only three:
(a) To gargle the mouth in such a way that water reaches everywhere.
(b) To wash the nose up to the soft bone.
(c) To pour water over the entire body.
4. While bathing, one should not face the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah). Too
much water should not be used, nor should so little be used that one is unable to
wash thoroughly. The bath should be taken at such a place that no one can see the
bather. One should not talk while bathing; he should cover himself up first and
then wash the feet.
5. If the bathing place is secluded where no one can see, then it is permissible to
bathe naked, irrespective of whether one is standing or sitting and irrespective of
whether the roof is covered or not. However, it is better to sit and bathe because
there is more modesty in this. To expose the body from the navel to the knees
before anyone is a sin. Many women bath completely naked in the presence of
other women. This is a very evil and shameful act.
6. Even if an area equal to a hair's breadth is left dry, Ghusl will not be complete.
In the same way, if one forgets to gargle the mouth or wash the nose, Ghusl will
not be complete.
7. If a woman pours water on her head three times, that will be sufficient and she
does not need to undo the braids. This is based on the Hadeeth (narration) of
Umm Salamah . It is narrated that she asked the Prophet : "I am a woman
with braided hair; should I undo it when doing Ghusl for Janaabah?" He
answered: “No, rather it will be sufficient for you to pour three handfuls of water
on your head, then pour water over yourself and you will be
purified.” [Muslim].Unless the Ghusl is after the menses, then she has to undo the
braids and wash her hair thoroughly.
Friday, 12 June 2015
THE BIOGRAPHY OF ALI BN ABI TALIB THE FOURTH CALPH
“You [Ali] are my brother in this world and the next.” (Hadith)
Ali’s Election
After Uthman’s martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should take up the office, but he was embarrassed by the fact that the people who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at first. When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) urged him, however, he finally agreed.
Ali’s Life
Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (peace be on him). More than that, he had grown up in the Prophet’s own household, later married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and remained in closest association with him for nearly thirty years.
Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Muhammad (peace be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing and prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their actions. The Prophet told him that they were praying to God Most High and that Ali too should accept Islam. Ali said that he would first like to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night, and in the morning he went to the Prophet and said, “When God created me He did not consult my father, so why should I consult my father in order to serve God?” and he accepted the truth of Muhammad’s message.
When the Divine command came, “And warn thy nearest relatives” [26:214], Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for a meal. After it was finished, he addressed them and asked, “Who will join me in the cause of God?” There was utter silence for a while, and then Ali stood up. “I am the youngest of all present here,” he said, “My eyes trouble me because they are sore and my legs are thin and weak, but I shall join you and help you in whatever way I can.” The assembly broke up in derisive laughter. But during the difficult wars in Mecca, Ali stood by these words and faced all the hardships to which the Muslims were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophet when the Quraish planned to murder Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet entrusted, when he left Mecca, the valuables which had been given to him for safekeeping, to be returned to their owners.
Apart from the expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early battles of Islam with great distinction, particularly in the expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud he received more than sixteen wounds.
The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many fond names. Once the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He brushed off Ali’s clothes and said fondly, “Wake up, Abu Turab (Father of Dust).” The Prophet also gave him the title of ‘Asadullah’ (‘Lion of God’).
Ali’s humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur’an and his sagacity gave him great distinction among the Prophet’s Companions. Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Uthman consulted him frequently during their caliphates. Many times ‘Umar had made him his vice-regent at Medina when he was away. Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches, sermons and letters served for generations afterward as models of literary expression. Many of his wise and epigrammatic sayings have been preserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality. In spite of these attainments he remained a modest and humble man. Once during his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man stood up in respect and followed him. “Do not do it,” said Ali. “Such manners are a temptation for a ruler and a disgrace for the ruled.”
Ali and his household lived extremely simple and austere lives. Sometimes they even went hungry themselves because of Ali’s great generosity, and none who asked for help was ever turned away from his door. His plain, austere style of living did not change even when he was ruler over a vast domain.
Ali’s Caliphate
As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly. Uthman’s murder and the events surrounding it were a symptom, and also became a cause, of civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the tragic situation was mainly due to inept governors. He therefore dismissed all the governors who had been appointed by Uthman and appointed new ones. All the governors excepting Muawiya, the governor of Syria, submitted to his orders. Muawiya declined to obey until Uthman’s blood was avenged. The Prophet’s widow Aisha also took the position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial. Due to the chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very difficult to establish the identity of the murderers, and Ali refused to punish anyone whose guilt was not lawfully proved. Thus a battle between the army of Ali and the supporters of Aisha took place. Aisha later realized her error of judgment and never forgave herself for it.
The situation in Hijaz (thc part of Arabia in which Mecca and Medina are located) became so troubled that Ali moved his capital to Iraq. Muawiya now openly rebelled against Ali and a fierce battle was fought between their armies. This battle was inconclusive, and Ali had to accept the de facto government of Muawiya in Syria.
However, even though the era of Ali’s caliphate was marred by civil strife, he nevertheless introduced a number of reforms, particularly in the levying and collecting of revenues.
It was the fortieth year of Hijra. A fanatical group called Kharijites, consisting of people who had broken away from Ali due to his compromise with Muawiya, claimed that neither Ali, the Caliph, nor Muawiya, the ruler of Syria, nor Amr bin al-Aas, the ruler of Egypt, were worthy of rule. In fact, they went so far as to say that the true caliphate came to an end with ‘Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.
The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiya and Amr did not succeed and were captured and executed, but Ibn-e-Muljim, the assassin who was commissioned to kill Ali, accomplished his task. One morning when Ali was absorbed in prayer in a mosque, Ibn-e-Muljim stabbed him with a poisoned sword. On the 20th of Ramadan, 40 A.H., died the last of the Rightly Guided Caliphs of Islam. May God Most High be pleased with them and grant to them His eternal reward.
With the death of Ali, the first and most notable phase in the history of Muslim peoples came to an end. All through this period it had been the Book of God and the practices of His Messenger - that is, the Qur'an and the Sunnah - which had guided the leaders and the led, set the standards of their moral conduct and inspired their actions. It was the time when the ruler and the ruled, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, were uniformly subject to the Divine Law. It was an epoch of freedom and equality, of God-consciousness and humility, of social justice which recognized no privileges, and of an impartial law which accepted no pressure groups or vested interests.
After Ali, Muawiya assumed the caliphate and thereafter the caliphate became hereditary, passing from one king to another.
Ali’s Election
After Uthman’s martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should take up the office, but he was embarrassed by the fact that the people who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at first. When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) urged him, however, he finally agreed.
Ali’s Life
Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (peace be on him). More than that, he had grown up in the Prophet’s own household, later married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and remained in closest association with him for nearly thirty years.
Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Muhammad (peace be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing and prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their actions. The Prophet told him that they were praying to God Most High and that Ali too should accept Islam. Ali said that he would first like to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night, and in the morning he went to the Prophet and said, “When God created me He did not consult my father, so why should I consult my father in order to serve God?” and he accepted the truth of Muhammad’s message.
When the Divine command came, “And warn thy nearest relatives” [26:214], Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for a meal. After it was finished, he addressed them and asked, “Who will join me in the cause of God?” There was utter silence for a while, and then Ali stood up. “I am the youngest of all present here,” he said, “My eyes trouble me because they are sore and my legs are thin and weak, but I shall join you and help you in whatever way I can.” The assembly broke up in derisive laughter. But during the difficult wars in Mecca, Ali stood by these words and faced all the hardships to which the Muslims were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophet when the Quraish planned to murder Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet entrusted, when he left Mecca, the valuables which had been given to him for safekeeping, to be returned to their owners.
Apart from the expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early battles of Islam with great distinction, particularly in the expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud he received more than sixteen wounds.
The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many fond names. Once the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He brushed off Ali’s clothes and said fondly, “Wake up, Abu Turab (Father of Dust).” The Prophet also gave him the title of ‘Asadullah’ (‘Lion of God’).
Ali’s humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur’an and his sagacity gave him great distinction among the Prophet’s Companions. Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and Uthman consulted him frequently during their caliphates. Many times ‘Umar had made him his vice-regent at Medina when he was away. Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches, sermons and letters served for generations afterward as models of literary expression. Many of his wise and epigrammatic sayings have been preserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality. In spite of these attainments he remained a modest and humble man. Once during his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man stood up in respect and followed him. “Do not do it,” said Ali. “Such manners are a temptation for a ruler and a disgrace for the ruled.”
Ali and his household lived extremely simple and austere lives. Sometimes they even went hungry themselves because of Ali’s great generosity, and none who asked for help was ever turned away from his door. His plain, austere style of living did not change even when he was ruler over a vast domain.
Ali’s Caliphate
As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly. Uthman’s murder and the events surrounding it were a symptom, and also became a cause, of civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the tragic situation was mainly due to inept governors. He therefore dismissed all the governors who had been appointed by Uthman and appointed new ones. All the governors excepting Muawiya, the governor of Syria, submitted to his orders. Muawiya declined to obey until Uthman’s blood was avenged. The Prophet’s widow Aisha also took the position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial. Due to the chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very difficult to establish the identity of the murderers, and Ali refused to punish anyone whose guilt was not lawfully proved. Thus a battle between the army of Ali and the supporters of Aisha took place. Aisha later realized her error of judgment and never forgave herself for it.
The situation in Hijaz (thc part of Arabia in which Mecca and Medina are located) became so troubled that Ali moved his capital to Iraq. Muawiya now openly rebelled against Ali and a fierce battle was fought between their armies. This battle was inconclusive, and Ali had to accept the de facto government of Muawiya in Syria.
However, even though the era of Ali’s caliphate was marred by civil strife, he nevertheless introduced a number of reforms, particularly in the levying and collecting of revenues.
It was the fortieth year of Hijra. A fanatical group called Kharijites, consisting of people who had broken away from Ali due to his compromise with Muawiya, claimed that neither Ali, the Caliph, nor Muawiya, the ruler of Syria, nor Amr bin al-Aas, the ruler of Egypt, were worthy of rule. In fact, they went so far as to say that the true caliphate came to an end with ‘Umar and that Muslims should live without any ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.
The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiya and Amr did not succeed and were captured and executed, but Ibn-e-Muljim, the assassin who was commissioned to kill Ali, accomplished his task. One morning when Ali was absorbed in prayer in a mosque, Ibn-e-Muljim stabbed him with a poisoned sword. On the 20th of Ramadan, 40 A.H., died the last of the Rightly Guided Caliphs of Islam. May God Most High be pleased with them and grant to them His eternal reward.
With the death of Ali, the first and most notable phase in the history of Muslim peoples came to an end. All through this period it had been the Book of God and the practices of His Messenger - that is, the Qur'an and the Sunnah - which had guided the leaders and the led, set the standards of their moral conduct and inspired their actions. It was the time when the ruler and the ruled, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the weak, were uniformly subject to the Divine Law. It was an epoch of freedom and equality, of God-consciousness and humility, of social justice which recognized no privileges, and of an impartial law which accepted no pressure groups or vested interests.
After Ali, Muawiya assumed the caliphate and thereafter the caliphate became hereditary, passing from one king to another.
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
BIOGRAPHY OF THE THIRD KHALIF OF ISLAM (UTHMAN BN AFFAN)
ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān
Muslim caliph
Written by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
Last Updated 8-18-2014
ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, (died June 17, 656, Medina, Arabian Peninsula), third caliph to rule
after the death of the Prophet. He centralized the administration of the caliphate and
established an official version of the Qurʾān . ʿUthmān is critically important in Islāmic history
because his death marked the beginning of open religious and political conflicts within the
Islāmic community ( see fitnah ).
ʿUthmān was born into the rich and powerful Umayyad clan of Mecca, and he became a
wealthy merchant. When Muḥammad began preaching in Mecca c. 615, he soon aroused
the hostility of the Umayyads, but about five years later ʿUthmān accepted Muḥammad and
thus became the first convert of high social and economic standing. Muḥammad valued this
contact with the Meccan aristocracy, and he allowed ʿUthmān to marry one of his
daughters. ʿUthmān rarely displayed energy or initiative, however, and his role in the first
years of Islāmic history was passive.
ʿUmar, the second caliph, died in 644, and ʿUthmān was elected successor by a council
named by ʿUmar before his death. Apparently ʿUthmān was selected as a compromise,
when the more powerful candidates cancelled each other out. He also represented the
Umayyad clan, which had suffered a partial eclipse during the Prophet’s lifetime but was
now reasserting its influence.
As caliph ʿUthmān promulgated an official version of the Qurʾān, which had existed in
various versions. ʿUthmān followed the same general policies as had ʿUmar, but he had a
less forceful personality than his predecessor. He continued the conquests that had steadily
increased the size of the Islāmic empire, but the victories now came at a greater cost and
brought less booty in return. ʿUthmān tried to create a cohesive central authority to replace
the loose tribal alliance that had emerged under Muḥammad. He established a system of
landed fiefs and distributed many of the provincial governorships to members of his family.
Thus much of the treasure received by the central government went to ʿUthmān’s family and
to other provincial governors rather than to the army. As a result of his policies, ʿUthmān
was opposed by the army, and he was often dominated by his relatives, unlike ʿUmar, who
had been strong enough to impose his authority on the governors, whatever their clan or
tribe.
By 650 rebellions had broken out in the provinces of Egypt and Iraq. In 655 a group of
Egyptian malcontents marched upon Medina, the seat of caliphal authority. ʿUthmān,
however, was conciliatory, and the rebels headed back to Egypt. Shortly thereafter,
however, another group of rebels besieged ʿUthmān in his home, and, after several days of
desultory fighting, he was killed.
Muslim caliph
Written by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
Last Updated 8-18-2014
ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, (died June 17, 656, Medina, Arabian Peninsula), third caliph to rule
after the death of the Prophet. He centralized the administration of the caliphate and
established an official version of the Qurʾān . ʿUthmān is critically important in Islāmic history
because his death marked the beginning of open religious and political conflicts within the
Islāmic community ( see fitnah ).
ʿUthmān was born into the rich and powerful Umayyad clan of Mecca, and he became a
wealthy merchant. When Muḥammad began preaching in Mecca c. 615, he soon aroused
the hostility of the Umayyads, but about five years later ʿUthmān accepted Muḥammad and
thus became the first convert of high social and economic standing. Muḥammad valued this
contact with the Meccan aristocracy, and he allowed ʿUthmān to marry one of his
daughters. ʿUthmān rarely displayed energy or initiative, however, and his role in the first
years of Islāmic history was passive.
ʿUmar, the second caliph, died in 644, and ʿUthmān was elected successor by a council
named by ʿUmar before his death. Apparently ʿUthmān was selected as a compromise,
when the more powerful candidates cancelled each other out. He also represented the
Umayyad clan, which had suffered a partial eclipse during the Prophet’s lifetime but was
now reasserting its influence.
As caliph ʿUthmān promulgated an official version of the Qurʾān, which had existed in
various versions. ʿUthmān followed the same general policies as had ʿUmar, but he had a
less forceful personality than his predecessor. He continued the conquests that had steadily
increased the size of the Islāmic empire, but the victories now came at a greater cost and
brought less booty in return. ʿUthmān tried to create a cohesive central authority to replace
the loose tribal alliance that had emerged under Muḥammad. He established a system of
landed fiefs and distributed many of the provincial governorships to members of his family.
Thus much of the treasure received by the central government went to ʿUthmān’s family and
to other provincial governors rather than to the army. As a result of his policies, ʿUthmān
was opposed by the army, and he was often dominated by his relatives, unlike ʿUmar, who
had been strong enough to impose his authority on the governors, whatever their clan or
tribe.
By 650 rebellions had broken out in the provinces of Egypt and Iraq. In 655 a group of
Egyptian malcontents marched upon Medina, the seat of caliphal authority. ʿUthmān,
however, was conciliatory, and the rebels headed back to Egypt. Shortly thereafter,
however, another group of rebels besieged ʿUthmān in his home, and, after several days of
desultory fighting, he was killed.
MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE WORD JIHAD IN ISLAM
TOP TEN MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
By Huma Ahmad
MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.
This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant
stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in
the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRguerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian
Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to
stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the
perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim
fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.
Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often
dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should
remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says
from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is
derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because
religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way
of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives.
Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the
part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules
of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying
crops, trees and livestock.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS..
The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace,
then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all
things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous
conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'.
Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of
the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner
peace.
MISCONCEPTION #2: Islam oppresses women.
The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and
forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples thoughts. Although some Muslim
countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from
Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and
introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.
Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the
two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the
right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the
groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather
than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is
modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most
perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is
not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is
free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country.
Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a
Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young
men they think may be suitable.
MISCONCEPTION #3: Muslims worship a different God.
Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most
inclusive of the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and
only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews,
in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he
prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the
same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah's
sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and
commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at
various times and in many places throughout history. However, it should be noted that
God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son ie
Jesus or have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in other
faiths.
MISCONCEPTION #4 : Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths.
Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman
carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly
converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given
respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with
regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from
dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8)
Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or
coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error".
(2:256)
Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the
spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-
Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian
religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they
might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out
of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism ..."
It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why
non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History
provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar
entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious
communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were
safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the
Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places.
Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which
implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all
citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.
Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all
peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul,
male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know
one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in
piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)
MISCONCEPTION #5: All Muslims are Arabs
The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world
is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the
globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith.
Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in
Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian
subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world,
and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10% of
the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area,
including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly
independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the
United States.
MISCONCEPTION #6: The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group.
Islam and the so called "Nation of Islam'" are two different religions. NOI is more of a
political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims
consider this group to be just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own
gain. The only thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both.
"The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the
name of its propogator, Louis Farrakhan.
Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan
followers believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore
superior, while in Islam there is no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight
of God, the only difference being in one's piety. There are many other theological
examples that show the 'Nation's teachings have little to do with true Islam. There are
many groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents Muslims.
Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam. The only
two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1. the Quran and 2. authentic or
sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance
with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the
Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered
a Pseudo-Islamic Cult.
In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An
honest attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and
their religion Islam. such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of
Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact
Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.
MISCONCEPTION #7: All Muslim men marry four wives.
The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates
widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another
wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband
is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into this kind of marriage if they do not
wish it, and they also have the right to exclude it in their marriage contract.
Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but merely permitted. Images of
"sheikhs with harems" are not consistent with Islam, as a man is only allowed at most
four wives only if he can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly and
providing each with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not
associated with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion
toward widows and orphans. It was the Quran that limited and put conditions on the
practice of polygamy among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and
considered them "property".
It is both honest and accurate to say that it is Islam that regulated this practice, limited it,
made it more humane, and instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the
Qur'anic decrees amount to, taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless
necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and
not polygamy. It is a very tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the world.
However, permission to practice limited polygamy is only consistent with Islam's realistic
view of the nature of man and woman and of various social needs, problems and cultural
variations.
The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank
and straightforward approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than
requiring hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems
of individuals and societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions which are far
more beneficial than would be the case if they were ignored. There is no doubt that the
second wife legally married and treated kindly is better off than a mistress without any
legal rights or expermanence.
MISCONCEPTION #8: Muslims are a barbaric, backward people.
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its
doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly
instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years,
great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (pbuh),
'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.
The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about
great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture,
art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals,
and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were
transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to
make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the
astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.
MISCONCEPTION #9: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.
Muhammad(pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since his father died before his
birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected
tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians
describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious
nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the
age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad(pbuh) received his first
revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23
years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from
Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group
of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God
gave them the command to emigrate.
This event, the Hijra 'migration', in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks
the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers
were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam
definitively. Before the Prophet saw dies at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was
Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as
far East as China. He died with less than 5 possessions to his name.
While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the
"founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to
all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus
etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his
own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last
and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him
(pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. "O
Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner
and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp."(33:45-6)
MISCONCEPTION #10: Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.
Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming.
They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never
refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be
peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the
Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The
Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:
"Behold!" the Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above
the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose
name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter,
and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and
in maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son
when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He
decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47)
Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u)
into being without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of
Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59) During his
prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: "
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the
figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the
blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad
(pbuh) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought
by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.
In the Quran Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law which was
before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to
you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without
partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and
messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and
that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by
Bukhari).
Sources: (Islam: A Brief Introduction, Islamic Circle of North America, Jamaica, New
York) (Understanding Islam and the Muslims, The Islamic Affairs Department The
Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, 1989.) (Badawi, Jamal, Polygamy in
Islamic Law, The Muslim Students' Association of the United States & Canada,) (Islam
and Farrakhanism Compared, The Institute of Islamic Information and Education,
Chicago, Illinois) (Jihad Explained, The Institute of Islamic Information & Education,
Chicago, Illinois)
By Huma Ahmad
MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.
This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant
stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in
the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRguerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian
Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to
stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the
perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim
fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.
Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often
dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should
remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says
from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is
derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because
religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way
of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives.
Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the
part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules
of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying
crops, trees and livestock.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS..
The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not
transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace,
then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all
things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous
conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'.
Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of
the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner
peace.
MISCONCEPTION #2: Islam oppresses women.
The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and
forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples thoughts. Although some Muslim
countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from
Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and
introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.
Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the
two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the
right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the
groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather
than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is
modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most
perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is
not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is
free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country.
Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a
Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young
men they think may be suitable.
MISCONCEPTION #3: Muslims worship a different God.
Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most
inclusive of the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and
only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews,
in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he
prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the
same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah's
sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and
commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at
various times and in many places throughout history. However, it should be noted that
God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son ie
Jesus or have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in other
faiths.
MISCONCEPTION #4 : Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths.
Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman
carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly
converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given
respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with
regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from
dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8)
Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or
coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error".
(2:256)
Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the
spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-
Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian
religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they
might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out
of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism ..."
It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why
non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History
provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar
entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious
communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were
safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the
Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places.
Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which
implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all
citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.
Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all
peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul,
male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know
one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in
piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)
MISCONCEPTION #5: All Muslims are Arabs
The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world
is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the
globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith.
Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in
Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian
subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world,
and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10% of
the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area,
including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly
independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the
United States.
MISCONCEPTION #6: The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group.
Islam and the so called "Nation of Islam'" are two different religions. NOI is more of a
political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims
consider this group to be just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own
gain. The only thing common between them is the jargon, the language used by both.
"The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be called Farrakhanism, after the
name of its propogator, Louis Farrakhan.
Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan
followers believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore
superior, while in Islam there is no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight
of God, the only difference being in one's piety. There are many other theological
examples that show the 'Nation's teachings have little to do with true Islam. There are
many groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents Muslims.
Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate and find the true Islam. The only
two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1. the Quran and 2. authentic or
sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance
with the direct understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the
Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered
a Pseudo-Islamic Cult.
In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An
honest attitude on the part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and
their religion Islam. such an example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of
Islam but Bahais do not call themselves Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact
Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.
MISCONCEPTION #7: All Muslim men marry four wives.
The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates
widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another
wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband
is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into this kind of marriage if they do not
wish it, and they also have the right to exclude it in their marriage contract.
Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but merely permitted. Images of
"sheikhs with harems" are not consistent with Islam, as a man is only allowed at most
four wives only if he can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly and
providing each with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not
associated with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion
toward widows and orphans. It was the Quran that limited and put conditions on the
practice of polygamy among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and
considered them "property".
It is both honest and accurate to say that it is Islam that regulated this practice, limited it,
made it more humane, and instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the
Qur'anic decrees amount to, taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless
necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and
not polygamy. It is a very tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the world.
However, permission to practice limited polygamy is only consistent with Islam's realistic
view of the nature of man and woman and of various social needs, problems and cultural
variations.
The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank
and straightforward approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than
requiring hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems
of individuals and societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions which are far
more beneficial than would be the case if they were ignored. There is no doubt that the
second wife legally married and treated kindly is better off than a mistress without any
legal rights or expermanence.
MISCONCEPTION #8: Muslims are a barbaric, backward people.
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its
doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly
instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years,
great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (pbuh),
'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.
The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about
great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture,
art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals,
and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were
transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to
make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the
astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.
MISCONCEPTION #9: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.
Muhammad(pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since his father died before his
birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected
tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians
describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious
nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the
age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad(pbuh) received his first
revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23
years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from
Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group
of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God
gave them the command to emigrate.
This event, the Hijra 'migration', in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks
the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers
were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam
definitively. Before the Prophet saw dies at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was
Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as
far East as China. He died with less than 5 possessions to his name.
While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the
"founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to
all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus
etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his
own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last
and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him
(pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. "O
Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner
and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp."(33:45-6)
MISCONCEPTION #10: Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.
Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming.
They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never
refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be
peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the
Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The
Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:
"Behold!" the Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above
the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose
name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter,
and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and
in maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son
when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He
decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47)
Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u)
into being without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of
Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59) During his
prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: "
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the
figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the
blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad
(pbuh) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in One God brought
by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.
In the Quran Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law which was
before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to
you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without
partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and
messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and
that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by
Bukhari).
Sources: (Islam: A Brief Introduction, Islamic Circle of North America, Jamaica, New
York) (Understanding Islam and the Muslims, The Islamic Affairs Department The
Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, 1989.) (Badawi, Jamal, Polygamy in
Islamic Law, The Muslim Students' Association of the United States & Canada,) (Islam
and Farrakhanism Compared, The Institute of Islamic Information and Education,
Chicago, Illinois) (Jihad Explained, The Institute of Islamic Information & Education,
Chicago, Illinois)
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN SALAT
Common Mistakes in Salaat, that must be avoided...!
Please read
7 Common mistakes, made in prayers
Mistake 1:
Reciting Surat al-Fatiha fast without pausing after
each verse.
The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of
this surah.(Abu Dawood)
Mistake 2:
Sticking the arms to the sides of the body, in rukoo' or
sujood, and sticking the belly to the thighs in sujood.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
'Let not one of you support himself on his forearms (in
sujood) like the dog. Let him rest on his palms and
keep his elbows away from his body.'
(Sahih Muslim).
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to keep his arms
away from his body during rukoo' and sujood that the
whiteness of his armpits could be seen.(Sahih Muslim)
Mistake 3:
Gazing upward during prayer.
This may cause loss of concentration.
We are commanded to lower our gaze, and look at the
point at which the head rests during sujood.
The Prophet (SAW) warned:
'Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop
doing so, or else their sights would not return to
them. i.e. lose their eyesight.'
(Muslim)
Mistake 4 :
Resting only the tip of the head on the floor during
sujood.
The Prophet (SAW) said:
'I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the
forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two
knees, and the two feet.'
(Sahih Muslim)
Applying the above command necessitates resting the
forehead and the nose on the ground during sujood.
Mistake 5 :
Hasty performance of prayer which does not allow
repose and calmness in rukoo' or sujood.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not
complete his rukoo' [bowing], and made a very short
sujood [prostration] ; he (SAW) said:
'If this man dies while praying in this manner, he
would die upholding a religion other than the religion
of Muhammad.'
Abu Hurairah (RA) said: 'My beloved friend,
Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of
prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast
performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox
and the sitting like monkeys ( i.e. to sit on thighs).'
(Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi)
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
' The worst thief is the one who steals from his own
prayer.' People asked, 'Messenger of Allah! How could
one steal from his own prayer?' He (SAW) said: 'By
not completing its rukoo' and sujood.'
(At Tabarani & al-Hakim).
To complete rukoo' is to stay in that posture long
enough to recite 'Subhana Rabbiyal Adtheem' three
times, SLOWLY, and 'Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala' three
times, SLOWLY, in sujood. He (SAW) also announced:
'He who does not complete his rukoo' and sujood, his
prayer is void.'(Abu Dawood & others)
Mistake 6 :
Counting tasbeeh with the left hand
The Prophet (SAW) used to count tasbeeh on the
fingers of his right hand after salah. Ibn Qudamah
(RA) said: ' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used his
right hand for tasbeeh.'
(Abu Dawood).
The above hadeeth indicates clearly that the Prophet
(SAW) used only one hand for counting tasbeeh. No
Muslim with sound mind would imagine that the
Prophet (SAW) used his left hand for counting
tasbeeh.
Aa'ishah (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used his
left hand only for Istinjaa', or cleaning himself after
responding to the call of nature.
He never used it for tasbeeh.
Yasirah (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW)
commanded women to count tasbeeh on their fingers.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'They (the
fingers) will be made to speak, and will be questioned
(on the Day of Resurrection)'
(At-Tirmidhi)
The above Hadeeth indicates that it is preferable to
count tasbeeh on the fingers of the right hand than to
do so on masbahah (rosary).
Mistake 7 :
Crossing in front of a praying person.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) warned:
'Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person
to know the consequences of doing so, he would have
waited for *forty better than to cross in front of him.'
(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
*The forty in the tradition may be; days months or
even years. Allah knows the best.
Please read
7 Common mistakes, made in prayers
Mistake 1:
Reciting Surat al-Fatiha fast without pausing after
each verse.
The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of
this surah.(Abu Dawood)
Mistake 2:
Sticking the arms to the sides of the body, in rukoo' or
sujood, and sticking the belly to the thighs in sujood.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
'Let not one of you support himself on his forearms (in
sujood) like the dog. Let him rest on his palms and
keep his elbows away from his body.'
(Sahih Muslim).
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to keep his arms
away from his body during rukoo' and sujood that the
whiteness of his armpits could be seen.(Sahih Muslim)
Mistake 3:
Gazing upward during prayer.
This may cause loss of concentration.
We are commanded to lower our gaze, and look at the
point at which the head rests during sujood.
The Prophet (SAW) warned:
'Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop
doing so, or else their sights would not return to
them. i.e. lose their eyesight.'
(Muslim)
Mistake 4 :
Resting only the tip of the head on the floor during
sujood.
The Prophet (SAW) said:
'I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the
forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two
knees, and the two feet.'
(Sahih Muslim)
Applying the above command necessitates resting the
forehead and the nose on the ground during sujood.
Mistake 5 :
Hasty performance of prayer which does not allow
repose and calmness in rukoo' or sujood.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not
complete his rukoo' [bowing], and made a very short
sujood [prostration] ; he (SAW) said:
'If this man dies while praying in this manner, he
would die upholding a religion other than the religion
of Muhammad.'
Abu Hurairah (RA) said: 'My beloved friend,
Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of
prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast
performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox
and the sitting like monkeys ( i.e. to sit on thighs).'
(Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi)
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
' The worst thief is the one who steals from his own
prayer.' People asked, 'Messenger of Allah! How could
one steal from his own prayer?' He (SAW) said: 'By
not completing its rukoo' and sujood.'
(At Tabarani & al-Hakim).
To complete rukoo' is to stay in that posture long
enough to recite 'Subhana Rabbiyal Adtheem' three
times, SLOWLY, and 'Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala' three
times, SLOWLY, in sujood. He (SAW) also announced:
'He who does not complete his rukoo' and sujood, his
prayer is void.'(Abu Dawood & others)
Mistake 6 :
Counting tasbeeh with the left hand
The Prophet (SAW) used to count tasbeeh on the
fingers of his right hand after salah. Ibn Qudamah
(RA) said: ' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used his
right hand for tasbeeh.'
(Abu Dawood).
The above hadeeth indicates clearly that the Prophet
(SAW) used only one hand for counting tasbeeh. No
Muslim with sound mind would imagine that the
Prophet (SAW) used his left hand for counting
tasbeeh.
Aa'ishah (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used his
left hand only for Istinjaa', or cleaning himself after
responding to the call of nature.
He never used it for tasbeeh.
Yasirah (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW)
commanded women to count tasbeeh on their fingers.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'They (the
fingers) will be made to speak, and will be questioned
(on the Day of Resurrection)'
(At-Tirmidhi)
The above Hadeeth indicates that it is preferable to
count tasbeeh on the fingers of the right hand than to
do so on masbahah (rosary).
Mistake 7 :
Crossing in front of a praying person.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) warned:
'Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person
to know the consequences of doing so, he would have
waited for *forty better than to cross in front of him.'
(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
*The forty in the tradition may be; days months or
even years. Allah knows the best.
Sunday, 7 June 2015
A PROF. CLAIM JESUS WAS MARRIED AND HAD TWO CHILDRE?
Jesus married the prostitute Mary Magdalene and had children, according to a
manuscript almost 1,500 years old unearthed at the British Library.
The so-called “Lost Gospel”, which has been translated from Aramaic, allegedly reveals
the startling new allegations, according to The Sunday Times.
Professor Barrie Wilson and writer Simcha Jacobovic spent months translating the text,
which they claim states Jesus had two children and the original Virgin Mary was Jesus’s
wife and not his mother.
Mary Magdalene already features in the existing gospels and is present at many of the
important moments recorded in Jesus’s life.
“The Lost Gospel” is not the first to claim that Jesus married Mary Magdalene.
Both Nikos Kazantzakis in his 1953 book “The Last Temptation of Christ” and, more
recently, Dan Brown in “The Da Vinci Code” made the same allegation.
Further revelations from the book, including the names of Jesus's children, will be
released on Wednesday.
manuscript almost 1,500 years old unearthed at the British Library.
The so-called “Lost Gospel”, which has been translated from Aramaic, allegedly reveals
the startling new allegations, according to The Sunday Times.
Professor Barrie Wilson and writer Simcha Jacobovic spent months translating the text,
which they claim states Jesus had two children and the original Virgin Mary was Jesus’s
wife and not his mother.
Mary Magdalene already features in the existing gospels and is present at many of the
important moments recorded in Jesus’s life.
“The Lost Gospel” is not the first to claim that Jesus married Mary Magdalene.
Both Nikos Kazantzakis in his 1953 book “The Last Temptation of Christ” and, more
recently, Dan Brown in “The Da Vinci Code” made the same allegation.
Further revelations from the book, including the names of Jesus's children, will be
released on Wednesday.
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